Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co., commonly known as Berenberg Bank and branded as Berenberg, is a Hamburg-based multinational investment banking and private banking company, founded by the Belgian-origined Berenberg family in 1590. It is the world's second oldest bank in continuous operation and the oldest merchant bank. Its owners belonged to the ruling elite of Hanseatic merchants of the city-republic of Hamburg and several family members served in the city-state's government from 1735.