History through buildings-Former bank building

In the 70s and 90s of the XIX century, Batumi developed into one of Georgia's industrial and commercial centers.
The importance of bank capital and credit gradually increased under the conditions of developing commodity-money relations, capitalist production and trade.The District Treasury, a branch of the State Bank, was opened in Batumi, and on 20 February 1890, a branch of the Tbilisi Commercial Bank was opened. A unique building was built for the bank at the intersection of Dondulovo Korsakov (now Konstantine Gamsakhurdia Street) and Mariinsky Prospect (now Memed Abashidze Avenue). The bank organised commercial credit transactions. It took immovable and movable property as collateral and extended loans to oil industrialists and exporters. Its clients shipped oil products to the major cities and other important commercial and industrial centres of Western Europe. Many residents of Batumi became depositors of the Tbilisi Commercial Bank. In 1922, the bank building was nationalised. It has retained the same function since the Soviet era.
First, it was the Batumi branch of the State Bank, then the Batumi branch of the National Bank of Georgia. In 2010-2011, the building underwent a comprehensive reconstruction. A tower was built, and the facades facing the two streets were changed and refreshed. A digital clock was installed in the tower. The BK restaurant is currently housed in the building.

Share