İş Bank Economic Independence Museum

The Türkiye İş Bankası Economic Independence Museum is located in the historic building of Türkiye İş Bank, founded by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1924, in Ulus, Ankara. The museum presents exhibitions documenting the economic independence process of the Republic of Turkey and the history of the establishment and development of Türkiye İş Bankası.

Turkey İş Bank Economic Independence Museum (Culture Portal)

History

The museum opened on 2 May 2019. The historic building was constructed in 1929 by Italian architect Giulio Mongeri as the 3rd General Directorate of İş Bank. The decoration was carried out by Selahattin Refik Sırmalı, and the building has been considered one of Ankara's important structures since the day it opened. On 22 October 1929, the ‘Board of Directors Hall,’ where Atatürk was a guest and which has been preserved in its original form to this day, was opened to visitors in the museum.

Architectural Features

The building is considered one of the surviving examples of early Republican-era architecture. The architectural design reflects influences from Western and Ottoman architecture, as well as traces of the Art Nouveau and Neo-Renaissance movements. The historic building consists of a basement, ground floor, first floor, and second floor.

Turkey İş Bank Economic Independence Museum (Culture Portal)

Exhibitions and Collections

The museum's basement, which used to be a safe deposit box area, and the ground and first floors, which have been preserved in their original state, are open to visitors. These floors feature photographs, documents, objects and films related to Turkey's economic independence. On the second floor, there is a permanent exhibition titled ‘Türkiye İş Bankası Presents with Pride,’ showcasing the Bank's communication activities and social contributions.

Türkiye İş Bank Economic Independence Museum (Ankara Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism)

The museum also displays the hall visited by Atatürk and documents, photographs and paintings related to this visit. Among these are the Weinberg painting signed by Atatürk to the Bank's Alexandria Branch and the oil painting of Atatürk by Kurt Bullent.

Function and Purpose

The museum aims to document the steps taken by Türkiye İş Bankası and the Republic of Turkey towards economic independence since its establishment. Visitors are presented with the development of the Bank from its establishment to the present day and Turkey's economic development process.

Visitor Information

Entry to the museum is free of charge. Information about visiting hours and exhibition programmes is available on the İş Sanat website.