BKT celebrates the 100th anniversary of its roots with a gala evening at the Opera House

2025-11-21 17:21:00, Aktualitet CNA

BKT celebrates the 100th anniversary of its roots with a gala evening at the

National Commercial Bank, the largest financial institution in the country, celebrated the 100th anniversary of its roots with a gala evening organized at the National Theater of Opera, Ballet and Popular Ensemble. The ceremony brought together executives of the sole shareholder Çalik Holding, executives of the Bank of Albania and financial institutions, local and international partners, the diplomatic corps, entrepreneurs, clients and associates of the bank.

The roots of the National Commercial Bank date back to 1925 with the establishment of the National Bank of Albania, the institution that created the first national monetary system, while the bank began operating under its current name on January 1, 1993, following the merger of the Albanian Commercial Bank and the National Bank of Albania. Following the bank's privatization in 2000, another key moment in its consolidation was the investment of Çal?k Holding, which in 2006 purchased 60% of BKT's shares to become its sole shareholder in 2009, laying the foundations for the development, modernization and transformation that have positioned BKT today as the leader of the Albanian financial system.

BKT celebrates the 100th anniversary of its roots with a gala evening at the

At the opening of the evening, welcoming speeches were held, where the General Director and Board Member of BKT, Mr. Seyhan Pencabligil, welcomed all the guests, saying that he feels proud of the institution he leads, the largest bank in the country since 2014, a world-class bank. He mentioned some of the initiatives undertaken on the occasion of this jubilee, the most important of which is the restoration and renovation of the four historical buildings of the Bank in the cities of Durrës, Elbasan, Korçë and Vlorë. These buildings, built in the 1920s, he added, are a testament to the vision of the bank's founders, who thought the bank would be here for many years and built them in such a way that they would last 100 years and will be here for hundreds of years to come.

BKT celebrates the 100th anniversary of its roots with a gala evening at the

Mr. Mehmet Usta, Chairman of the Board of BKT, stated that “The National Commercial Bank has led the economic life of Albania and has become a symbol of development, trust and stability. But above all, it is the strongest example of what an institution can achieve when reason, work and faith come together. “Today, BKT – he said – is building a new future on a long heritage, it is connecting 100 years of history with digital innovation, focusing on sustainability and contribution to the community. Today, on the basis of the trust inherited from the past and joint efforts, we are laying the foundations of a new century and will continue to contribute to the future of Albania with the same determination.” At the end of his speech, he thanked the bank’s managers, employees, clients and partners for their contribution.

The Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr. Gent Sejko, noted the historical role of the institution he leads and the common roots with BKT since 1925. He stated that: – “One of the most valued contributions of BKT is its work in financial inclusion: expanding access to services, building trust in the community and educating customers on the use of modern banking instruments. BKT is also an important engine of innovation, with major investments in digitalization, in modern payment products and in banking services that facilitate citizens' access to finance. In many respects, the bank has been one of the promoters of the country's transition towards an increasingly modern and technology-oriented economy.

BKT celebrates the 100th anniversary of its roots with a gala evening at the

The evening's artistic program was conceived as a timeless journey between the past, present and future. The evening's performers were soprano Marigona Qerkezi, one of the most important voices of the international operatic scene, the world-renowned baritone Gëzim Myshketa and the world-renowned virtuoso violinist Olen Cesari, who performed together with the Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the National Theater of Opera, Ballet and Popular Ensemble, under the direction of the renowned maestro Sergio Alapont. known for his refined interpretations and the artistic energy that gives life to each performance.

They brought a selected program that skillfully combined tradition and modernity, with works by Albanian composers Avni Mula, Pjetër Gaci, well-known pieces from the powerful operatic works Tosca, Carmen and Maria Stuarda as well as electrifying violin performances from the film score “Gladiator” and “Argentine Tango”.

Time travel was also brought to the stage through a collage of traditional dances by the Popular Ensemble and the contemporary ballet "Viceversa" performed by the ballerinas of the TKOBAP ballet troupe, with choreography by Julind Dervishi, as well as a monologue by the artist Indri Shiroka.

The vision for the future was reflected through a performance by the talented young dancer Ergi Imeraj with choreography by Donald Martin. All performances were accompanied by 360° projections that offered an extraordinary multi-dimensional experience for the guests.

BKT celebrates the 100th anniversary of its roots with a gala evening at the

In the context of this anniversary, BKT has completed the restoration of its four historical branches throughout 2025, preserving their architectural identity, in the cities of Durrës, Elbasan, Korçë and Vlorë, a very important initiative in preserving cultural heritage, considering that three of these buildings have been declared cultural monuments.

Moreover, the extensive transformation of BKT's branch network has continued simultaneously with the aim of further improving the customer experience, with more than half of them now operating with a new advanced operational model and modern spaces.

Following the 100th anniversary activities, BKT has also planted 100 plane trees in the cities where its historical branches are located, as a symbol of continuity, sustainability and the bank's connection with the community.

BKT is the largest bank in Albania with total assets of around $7 billion on a consolidated banking group basis at the end of December 2024, also owning 25% of the total assets of the banking system in Albania.

It operates in Albania through 62 branches and agencies and serves more than 850,000 customers with innovative products and services. The BKT Group includes the National Commercial Bank of Kosovo with 25 branches and the Electronic Money Institution BKT Pay.

BKT celebrates the 100th anniversary of its roots with a gala evening at the

Thanks to its high performance, BKT has been recognized over the years with various prestigious awards such as "Best Bank in Albania" by well-known institutions at national and international level such as The Banker, Global Finance, Euromoney, Emea Finance, Finance Central Europe, etc.

Positive ratings have also been received from well-known credit rating agencies such as S&P Global Ratings and JCR Eurasia Rating or correspondent banks such as Deutsche Bank. The bank's sole shareholder is Çal?k Holding, founded in 1981 in Istanbul and operating in various sectors including energy, construction, textiles, mining and finance. (Promotional Article).