Yapi Kredi Celebrates its 61st Year
As a bank characterized with its "Firsts" and serving as a leader in the realization of changes and developments in economic, technological, cultural and social fields of activity since its foundation, Yapi Kredi has completed its 61st year of age. The bank's birthday was celebrated in Dolmabahce Palace with the opening of a picture exhibition, the most comprehensive one ever realized until now, of the renowned painter Hoca Ali Riza of Uskudar, followed by a concert presented by the recognized pianist and composer Anjelika Akbar.
As a bank founded under the difficult conditions of The Second World War to serve as Turkey's first private bank, Yapi Kredi started off on 9 September 1944 in Bahcekapi-Istanbul with a capital of 1 million Turkish Liras and with a staff of 14 persons. Leaving its 61 years of activity behind without showing any deviation from the principle "There is no limit in serving" as expressed by its founder Kazim Taskent, Yapi Kredi has now become one of the most important players leading our country's economy, with its 10 thousand employees, more than 400 branches, and 10 million customers.
Constantly updating its services, Yapi Kredi has not limited its activities only to banking, but through its engagement in cultural activities and its deep concern and awareness as regards to the Turkish history and art, it has played an important role in raising our country's level of modern living. Aiming to bring the cultural values to daylight and to develop and transfer the already existing accumulation of culture and art Yapi Kredi celebrated its 61st anniversary with the opening of a picture exhibition of Hoca Ali Riza (1858-1930), one of the most distinguished painters of Turkish history of painting. In the exhibition, prepared as a memorial of the 75th year of the death of Hoca Ali Riza of Uskudar, who also served as the president of the Ottoman Painters Association for a certain period, more than 250 works of him are being displayed all together for the first time. This exhibition, taking place in Dolmabahce Palace is qualified as the most important exhibition organized after the Imperial Painter Zonaro Exhibition held last year. With his paintings obtained from various collections, Hoca Ali Riza effectively causes the immortality of Istanbul's lost cultural values through a documentary approach.
In addition to Hoca Ali Riza's unique exhibition, the 61st birthday of Yapi Kredi was celebrated also with a magnificient concert presented by the renowned pianist and composer, Anjelika Akbar, one of the most popular artists of our times. With her unforgettable performance displayed within the beautiful scenery of Istanbul panorama, the guests enjoyed a pleasant night.
As the first private bank of Turkey, Yapi Kredi was the pioneer bank that started in Turkey the idea of Retail Banking, introducing the first credit card and using advanced technology in the Turkish banking sector. The first Turkish bank that concluded the first collective labor agreement in the banking sector and had its shares traded in the international markets was also Yapi Kredi. With its state-of-art Operation Center which has become a symbol of operational productivity, Yapi Kredi presently continues its leadership in the field of finance, with the confidence it has gained through its accumulation of 61 years of experience. Established with Kazim Taskent's unique principles and values, Yapi Kredi is now proceeding toward future with determined steps.
Yapı Kredi / 09 Sep 2005