The birth of Banque Lambert and the creation of the Kingdom of Belgium are intertwined. Despite the scepticism of the financial circles regarding the future of the new state, Baron James de Rothschild, one of Europe's leading bankers, decides to open a branch office in Brussels in 1830. This is followed by a second branch office in Antwerp, headed by Samuel Lambert, a painter from Alsace who makes the switch to the banking world. The Rothschilds take an increasing interest in Belgian public and private enterprises and are soon active in sectors ranging from mining to the steel industry in Liège.
In 1853, Samuel Lambert takes charge of what becomes the firm of Lambert, agent Rothschild. As the state and subsequently the provinces and municipalities increasingly call on bankers for the placement of their loans, Samuel Lambert becomes closely involved with the authorities and regularly visits King Leopold I.
When Samuel Lambert dies in 1875, he is succeeded by his son Léon, who is 24 at the time and has been with the Rothschilds for three years. Under his direction, the Lambert offices are relocated to the corner of Avenue Marnix and Rue d’Egmont in 1885.
As adviser to the Palace, a role he takes over from his father, Léon Lambert gives direct support to King Leopold II for the development of his Africa policy and the establishment of the Comité d'Etudes du Haut-Congo and the Banque du Congo belge.
During the First World War Léon Lambert, together with prominent figures such as industrialist Emile Francqui, plays an important role in the establishment of the National Aid and Food Committee, which is created on 5 September 1914.
Léon Lambert dies on 30 January 1919.
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In 1949, Baron Léon Lambert, who has come of age, becomes a member of the Executive Board. In spite of his youth, he succeeds in elevating Banque Lambert to second in the ranking of Belgium's private financial institutions within a quarter of a century.
In 1953, Banque Lambert takes over the Banque de Reports et de Dépôts. The bank goes on to expand its network, mainly through the acquisition of a number of local banks and specialised institutions. Baron Lambert, like his forefathers, also looks beyond Belgian borders and sets up activities in Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy and New York and on the African continent.
In the 1950s, as a result of Léon Lambert’s expansion of the bank, its buildings become too cramped and in 1956, the private residence of the Lambert family is destroyed by fire, the idea arises to erect a new, contemporary building. Commissioned by the American architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Gordon Bunshaft, known for some of the most beautiful office buildings in New York, draws the plans for the Marnix building. The building is inaugurated in 1964.
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