The
Medici Bank (
Italian:
Banco Medici) was a financial institution created by the
Medici family in Italy during the 15th century (1397–1494). It was the largest and most respected bank in
Europe during its prime. There are some estimates that the
Medici family was, for a period of time, the wealthiest family in Europe. Estimating their wealth in today's money is difficult and imprecise, considering that they owned art, land, and gold. With this monetary wealth, the family acquired
political power initially in
Florence, and later in the wider spheres of
Italy and Europe.