Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

About the business

Royal Bank of Canada and its subsidiaries trade under the master brand RBC.

The bank describes itself as one of Canada's biggest and one of the largest in the world by market capitalization. Its 2025 annual report counts more than 19 million clients and over 100,000 employees in Canada, the United States and 27 other countries, and its common shares are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the ticker RY.

The bank's own history pages begin in Halifax in the 1860s. The founders of the Merchants' Bank of Halifax were established maritime merchants; RBC dates its corporate history from incorporation in 1869, and the name The Royal Bank of Canada arrived with the national expansion of 1901. An emblem carrying a lion, a crown and a globe was introduced in 1962, and in 2001 the company created a master brand named “RBC Financial Group”, shortened to “RBC” in 2007.

In Canada the bank runs what its annual report calls the largest retail banking network in the country — 1,159 branches and 3,869 ATMs — across personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance and capital markets. One of those branches stands at 93 Bridge Street in Carleton Place, the town where UAFest is held, with a night deposit, safe deposit boxes and service in English and French.

Giving is a stated part of the business. RBC, RBC Foundation and RBC Foundation USA reported more than $209 million in community investments in 2025, part of a commitment of C$2 billion in community investments by 2035. Arts and culture is one of four preferred sponsorship areas the bank names, and RBC Emerging Artists, launched in 2007, takes ten per cent of the RBC Foundation's annual budget.

In February 2022 RBC announced a $250,000 donation — $200,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal and $50,000 towards mental health support for the Ukrainian community in Canada. On 10 March it added $750,000 more. “Recognizing the scale of devastation, and the growing needs of Ukrainian refugees, RBC is expanding our financial support to $1 million to support humanitarian relief efforts,” said Dave McKay, President and CEO. UAFest lists Royal Bank of Canada among the businesses it publicly thanked after its 2025 edition.