Financial company that handles a variety of financial transactions and whose services are monitored by the Federal Reserve Board. The lists of financial services that a financial holding company can provide were formulated under the Gramm-Leach-Billey Act of 1999. An institution whose services encompass at least 85% of those of a banking institution may apply to be a financial holding company. In 2008, American Express, a credit card company, was changed into a financial holding company.