Company History Timeline 

1980
Every Christmas morning, Merrill Lynch opens its telephone lines to elderly citizens so they can make phone calls to loved ones free of charge. The Christmas Calls Program was created by then president William A. Schreyer.

1982
Identifying the increasing potential of the Asia-Pacific Rim region, Merrill Lynch establishes a regional headquarters in Hong Kong.

1985 
Merrill Lynch's corporate campus in Plainsboro, New Jersey, is completed.

Merrill Lynch becomes the first foreign securities firm to be granted a regular membership on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Merrill Lynch celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Account Executives are renamed Financial Consultants.

1986
To reflect the firm's presence in Asia, the first foreign language Annual Report is published in Japanese. Future Annual Reports are translated into Chinese, French, Spanish, German and Russian.

1987
During and after the stock market plunge of 508 points on 10 October, Merrill Lynch takes measures to alleviate investors' fears with reasonable advice and information. Appearing in a television commercial, CEO and Chairman William A. Schreyer confidently states that "Merrill Lynch is still bullish on America."

1988
Merrill Lynch tops U.S. and global debt and equity underwriting chart for the first time.

The Merrill Lynch Foundation, with assistance from the National Urban League, creates the Scholarship Builder Program. The program grants four-year college scholarships to any one of the 250 inner-city first graders who graduate from high school. Over 90% of the participants in the program completed high school and received a college scholarship.

 View 1990s