Overview
Northern Trust is a publicly listed global financial services company founded by Byron Laflin Smith in Chicago on 12 August 1889. It provides asset servicing, investment management, banking and wealth management services to institutional and private clients.
Its mission centres on being a trusted financial partner, guided by service, expertise and integrity. The company emphasises fiduciary responsibility, client relationships and long-term financial outcomes.
Mission and focus areas
Northern Trust specialises in investment management, custody, fund administration, financial planning and institutional asset servicing. Its clients include pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, asset managers, corporations, foundations and high-net-worth individuals.
Its sustainable investment activities incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into investment research, portfolio construction and stewardship, where consistent with client objectives. These activities include assessing financially material sustainability risks, engaging with investee companies and exercising shareholder voting rights.
Structure and governance
Northern Trust Corporation operates as a publicly traded financial holding company headquartered in Chicago. Its principal subsidiary is The Northern Trust Company, and its operations are organised around three businesses: Asset Servicing, Asset Management and Wealth Management.
The corporation is governed by a board of directors, supported by board committees and executive leadership. Its governance arrangements include corporate governance guidelines, business conduct policies and specialist oversight structures for investment stewardship and sustainability.
Programs and offerings
Northern Trust provides custody, investment administration, portfolio management, investment analytics, banking and wealth advisory services. Its research publications cover capital markets, asset allocation, investment strategy, liquidity management and sustainable investing.
Northern Trust Asset Management publishes stewardship reports, engagement policies and proxy voting guidelines. It also maintains ESG data capabilities and offers sustainability-related investment solutions.
For finance professionals, these resources support institutional investment analysis, portfolio risk management, ESG due diligence, stewardship assessment and regulatory reporting.
