Private bankers were an outgrowth of the group of merchant bankers. This was the name given to trading houses that combined trade with banking (Bank). The earliest examples were the Tuscan trading companies of the 13th century. Firms like the Bonsignori and – in the 14th century – the Acciaiuoli, Bardi, and Peruzzi not only combined long-distance trade (Trade, Long-distance) with foreign exchange, they also served as collectors of curial funds for the papacy, tax farmers, and lenders (Credit) to princes. There were few changes in this service profile of the trading companies in t…