Contribution to the Research on Srpska Banka D. D. Zagreb Organisation and Business in the Period of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy

This paper deals with Srpska banka d.d. Zagreb organisation and business along with its management body members in the period of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. It adopts an institutional history perspective and is based on archival resources. Regarding its business it is presented within the context of both the domestic and international economic situation. This research study provides an analysis from the period of the bank’s foundation in 1895 until the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918. The organisation of Srpska banka, as well as other financial institutions in the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, was regulated by the Trgovački zakon (Commercial Act) of 1875 and the Obrtni zakon (Law on Craft Activities) of 1884. Srpska banka was among the most significant banks in the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia in terms of shareholders’ equity and financial performance. Furthermore, it was the most important bank of the Serbs in the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. It started its business with shareholders’ equity of 1,530,000 forints i.e. 3,060,000 kronas, and by the time of the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918 its shareholders’ equity had grown to 12,750,000 kronas. Even during World War I, the bank managed to maintain its financial stability. By 1918, Srpska banka had established two subsidiaries: one in Budapest (founded in 1903) and another in Novi Sad (founded in 1914).