Stable expression “as secure as a Swiss Bank” is associated with a full guarantee and absolute security. The reputation of foreign banking institutions developed for a long time, has been tested by history and time. And few people know that the creation and existence of banking institutions in Zhytomyr is interesting not by the fact of appearance, but also by the principles by which personnel were selected and the foundations of work were formed. And when few banks you could easily say the same thing about the Swiss
At the end of the XIX century, banks in the Russian Empire served mainly for lending to the nobility and government. They should revitalize trade, strengthen the economy and develop a new credit system. Three offices and 24 branches in large cities had to attract investors, make operations convenient and transparent for customers. At that time, banks tried to make their activities available to the public: the Central Newspapers published not only the balance sheets of the offices, but also explained the content of the main operations and the meaning of banking terms. Even justified to investors, as happened, for example, in 1875, when as a result of the disaster with the Moscow savings Bank went bankrupt commercial and industrial enterprises.
In such difficult times for the great Empire in Zhytomyr opened a branch of the State Bank. Actually, not by itself, and at the request of the Volyn Governor P. A. Gesser who in 1873 addressed to the Kyiv, Podolsk and Volyn Governor-General. In the letter, the head of the city motivated the appeal by the fact that landowners and members of the Zhytomyr city society appealed with persistent requests for the establishment of the institution. Respected community considered credit operations are important and progressive factor in the development of the province, in what is certainly right.
Permission from the Board of the State Bank came August 20, 1875 in the form of a letter from the head of the Ministry of Finance to the Kyiv Governor-General. In the letter it was reported that it is possible to begin preparation for opening of organization, and to Zhytomyr office the II category according to classification of banking institutions of that time was appropriated. At the same time, the process of technical training began: the room was selected, the staff gathered. All this was done by a man, who became the first head: November 25, 1875, Nicholas A. Vacancies-Makarevych was appointed the first head of the Zhytomyr office. The candidacy was worthy, because Nikolai Antonovych was a pupil of the Noble Regiment, worked in the credit Department, holding the position of senior controller, was even awarded the Order of St. Stanislav II-St stage. Five years later, he was promoted to the rank of state Councilor.
Throughout the existence of the Bank, great attention was paid to personnel issues, in particular the issues of reliability of employees.
Even marriage had to agree: workers applied and had to get permission. In some archival Affairs of the times of such treatment is preserved. For example, in 1908, one of the clerks (the lower ranks of small loan) Peter A. Dulcic-F. has received permission by resolution of the management as follows: “Sow a certificate issued by a subordinate office attendant I Office Peter Andrianovych Dulcic-F. according to the address, about the fact that the entry into a valid marriage with the girl Elena Dins Volusia from my side there is no obstacle. Mr. Dulcic-F. Orthodox religion, not married, born 3 Sep 1882”. Worked at that time in banks and those whose surnames are well familiar to Zhytomyr today. For example, the Zhytomyr merchant of the 2nd Guild Glary I. Triebel, who in cooperation with the state Bank in 1904, received the “Golden medal of Stanislav on the neck.” Hilary Triebel worked in the Department since 1899. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, he was also the Treasurer of the Volyn hunting society, and in the famous house of Triebel there was once a “Peasant Presence”.
The architect of the city administration Mieczyslaw Adamowicz, Librovich-a landmark for Zhytomyr personality. It was his project in Zhytomyr that built the symbol of the city – the water tower. At that time, he was a Member of the Accounting and Loan Committee of the state Bank, a vowel of the city Duma. At the same time he carried out work on the construction of Zhytomyr branch of the State Bank. He graduated from the courses of the St. Petersburg Institute of technology of Emperor Nicholas and received the title of engineer-technologist and degree. Besides, the native of Warsaw headed office of the Warsaw construction and technical office which was in his own house on 12, Kyivska street. For his competence and efficiency, he received an invitation from the management of the Bank’s branch. “Dear Sir Mechyslav Adamovich! By this letter I have the honour to invite you, with your consent, to assume the duties of a member of the Accounting and Loan Committee for commercial and industrial loans of the Bank and, if you agree, please inform us at the same address. Please accept the assurances of my respect and devotion to You,” wrote the then Manager of the Department Dmitry Teplov. In the individual case of Librovych left a note: “a man of impeccable honesty and completely dispassionate” January 1, 1914 Mieczyslaw Adamovich was awarded the order of St. Stanislaus 3rd degree.
In the early twentieth century in Zhytomyr worked several branches of different banks. One of them – Zhytomyr branch of the state Bank, which was located on the current street and lyatoshinsky long enough to retain its appointment. Volyn branch of the peasant land Bank, which was built by architect Mechyslav Adamovych Lybrovych, worked on the street Nicholas, 11 (the current street Feshchenko-Chopivsky), but even under the Soviet regime, the purpose of the building changed. On Velyka Berdychivska street there was a building in which the Azov-don Commercial Bank functioned. In 1911, the Bank moved to the premises on Mykhailivska street, and the architectural monument still adorns the main pedestrian street of the city.
Banking has evolved gradually, changing times and the leaders, and soon the power. As fate did with Zhytomyr, which was known and respected in the city – is unknown. But it was after them, honest and dedicated, we were not only beautiful buildings – the decoration of the city, but also examples to follow “impeccable honesty”, professionalism and love for the city in which we live.
According to the article V. of the Hungarian ” the staff of the Zhytomyr branch of the State Bank (the second floor. XIX-Poch. XX century) but essays b. Dubman about Zhytomyr.
Translated by Aliona Matushevich