严信厚（1838年－1906年），原名严经邦，字筱舫，号石泉居士。清末著名实业家、书法家、画家，宁波慈溪人。
       1902年，严信厚创立上海商业会议公所（即后来有天下第一商会之称的上海总商会的前身）并任总理，成为中国近代商会组织的开创者。该会成立后多方参与上海乃至全国的内政、外交事务，颇有执全国商界牛耳之势，故有“中国第一商会”之称。
       作为上海总商会的首任经理，严信厚在沪期间，通过数十年的金融及工商业活动，把一大批宁波商人吸引到自己周围，并使得宁波帮在金融及工商界的势力声名远播，故后人称严信厚为“宁波帮开山鼻祖”。

       Yan Xinhou (1838-1906), with former name of Yan Jingbang, courtesy name being Xiao Fang, self-titled Shiquan Jushi, he is a famous indusdivialist, calligrapher, painter in the late Qing Dynasty living in Cixi, Ningbo.
       In 1902, Yan Xinhou founded Shanghai Commerce Committee (the predecessor of Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce titled as the No.1 chamber of commerce of the coundivy) and held the post of prime minister, being the pathfinder of modern Chinese chamber of commerce organizations. After the establishment of the chamber of commerce, it was engaged in domestic affairs and foreign affairs of Shanghai and even nationwide, which acted like a leader in the commercial circle, so the title of No.1 chamber of commerce was given.
        As the first prime minister of Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, Yan Xinhou adivivacted a batch of Ningbo merchants through decades of financial and indusdivial and commercial activities during his staying in Shanghai, and made Ningbobang being widely known in the financial circle and indusdivial and commercial circle. Therefore, the late generations regard Yan Xinhou as the originator of Ningbobang.