Before banks in the U.S. had a branch on every corner, they were an exclusive service for the wealthy.
For the poor, working, and immigrant class, saving money was as unreliable as stashing it under a mattress. But at the turn of the 20th century, A.P. Giannini, son of Italian immigrants, revolutionized the industry with his small Bank of Italy in San Francisco.

As a first-generation Italian-American, his goal was to serve “the little fellow” and breed prosperity within his immigrant community. But, by building trust and giving loans on a simple handshake, he created one of the largest banks in the country – Bank of America.

A Little Fellow tells the story of a man who struck fear into the heart of Wall Street while having everyday people in mind. Known as “People’s banker,” he gave a friendly face to a greedy industry. As one of the first investors in Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Hewlett-Packard, his forward-thinking helped the country through two World Wars and the Great Depression.