Zagrebačka banka began its operations back in 1914 as the City Savings Bank. It changed its name into Zagreb City Savings Bank in 1946. It was conducting its business operations under this name until the 1960s, when it was incorporated into the Zagreb Municipal Bank which was soon renamed the Credit Bank and became a part of the system of the Commercial Bank Association in Zagreb.
In the early 1970s, the Zagreb Associated Bank was founded, which consisted of five banks, and one of them was the Credit Bank. In the late 1970s, the founders of the Zagreb Credit Bank and Jugobank merged into Zagrebačka banka. In 1989 Zagrebačka banka became the first bank in Yugoslavia which was organized as a modern joint stock company.
The headquarters is in the space of a protected cultural monument the building of the City Savings Bank on the Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb. There is a branch that provides family, personal and corporate banking services in one part of the building, while the Bank's Management and associated organisational departments are located in the other part of the building. There are more than 150 employees currently working in the building of the City Savings Bank.
The City Savings Bank is one of the most famous symbols of the City of Zagreb. It is a work of Ignjat Fischer, a famous architect from Zagreb, whose works greatly influenced the shaping of the inner Zagreb city centre and the City's identity. The construction began in 1924 and was fully completed in 1939. Within the building, in addition to the business space, there were also flats for citizens and the space of Gradska kavana and Gradski podrum. The space intended for banking business has the characteristics of Neoclassicism and Art Deco.
Back in 1991, Zagrebačka banka was the first Croatian bank to implement the International Accounting Standards, and in 1995, as the first bank in Croatia, it established the Management and Supervisory Board. Its shares were listed on the Zagreb Stock Exchange in 1995, and soon after this, in 1996 the stocks were listed on the London Stock Exchange. Zagrebačka banka was the first Croatian bank to be rated by three major rating agencies in 1997. Prominent financial magazines such as Euromoney, Global Finance, Central European and Business Central Europe declared it the best Croatian bank in 1997.
In the same year, the Banks shares were recognized as the most liquid on the market, the Bank was given the award for the best public relations and it introduced the ESOP programme giving its employees the possibility of becoming the Banks shareholders under favourable conditions.
Zagrebačka banka was the first bank in the world to issue Euro GDRs in 1998, and the first Croatian bank to establish a specialized housing and savings bank in the same year. The Bank won a series of Golden awards, and finally the Crystal Kuna award in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The Bank won the award for the Donor of the Year as the best partner to the entrepreneurs, as well as for its contribution to the environment protection.
In March 2002, Zagrebačka banka became a member of the UniCredit Group, one of the strongest financial groups in Europe, which operates on 17 key markets with around 8,900 branches and over 25 million clients. So far, Zagrebačka banka has been the leader on the Croatian market and one of the most successful members of the UniCredit Group.
The City Savings Bank branch was thoroughly renovated in 2014 with a special dedication to preserving all of its original elements, while providing conditions for modern banking. By opening a newly renovated branch of the City Savings Bank, the brand campaign started, marking the 100th anniversary of Zagrebačka banka. The City Savings Bank was founded back in 1914, and it actively participated in the economic development and urban design of the City of Zagreb from the start. Zagrebačka banka took on that role for the entire Croatia, so some of the most important projects supported by the Bank were presented in the first part of the campaign.
Zagreb Electric Tram
Back in 1916 we financed the development of the Zagreb Electric Tram which eventually became the most important factor in the development of the city and a part of its identity. Almost a century later, we again participated in the modernisation of the fleet, thus preparing the company for the next hundred years.
Zagreb Airport
For a whole century, our mission has been supporting projects which are useful to the whole community. That is why in 1959 we financed the construction of the Zagreb Airport, a project which was important for the development of the economy and tourism of the entire country. Even today the Bank is participating in the construction of the brand new airport.
Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall
In 1973 we financed the construction of Croatia's first and most famous concert hall Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall which has raised generations of musicians so far, and has offered the best of the world music to our citizens, as demonstrated by three world-class performances by the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra.
Istrian Y highway
In 1997 the Bank financed the construction of the Istrian Y highway which accelerated the development of Istria, and also made its beauty more accessible to everyone.
Petrova trudionica project
We are proud that in 2007 we initiated a large social action which brought together the entire Croatian public. The result of the project in 2009 was the full renovation of the Department of Pathology of Pregnancy 2 in the Petrova Hospital, which was also the reference centre for the entire country that takes care of those most delicate among us.
Pometeno brdo Wind Power Plant
One of the most valuable community projects was the financing of the construction of the Pometeno brdo Wind Power Plant in 2011, as an example of the Bank's investment into green energy and sustainable development of the Republic of Croatia.
Zagrebačka banka opened a time capsule Time Vault and invited citizens to store an item for safekeeping during the next 100 years free of charge. This way the Bank enabled storing memories or valuables, photos or items which the citizens wanted to preserve, and which will be handed over to their successors in 2114.
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