Exhibition “Alpha Bank/History Ι: Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique, 1924-1947”

An exhibition on Alpha Bank’s history

The exhibition “Alpha Bank/History Ι: Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique, 1924-1947” is the 1st in a series of exhibitions presenting different periods in the history of Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique. The exhibition is based on exceptionally rich material available in the Alpha Bank Historical Archives.

Aim of the exhibition

The aim of the exhibition is to highlight moments, actions and people who:

• Shaped Alpha Bank as it is today.
• Introduced Alpha Bank to the Greek history of enterprise as a memorable case example, through a string of challenges and hardships.

In the words of Kostas Kostis

As eloquently put by Kostas Kostis, professor at the University of Athens and scientific officer of the Alpha Bank Historical Archives, in the introduction of the exhibition catalogue:

“It is not by accident that the Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique was selected as the starting theme of the exhibition panorama on the history of Alpha Bank.

Established in 1924, at a favourable junction for banking, along with many other similar in nature and size entrepreneurial ventures, it succeeded in something that may seem inexplicable at first glance: it survived the extremely difficult circumstances, it alone among all other institutions.

Neither the depression in 1929, nor WWII and hyperinflation would stop its activities. Conservative strategies, effective tactics and wise choices led to what, theoretically, appears improbable: the survival of the bank.

And when in 1947 economic activity was restored to a normalcy long since forgotten, Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique was able to change not just its name, but its entire activity: it ceased being a regional bank and gradually claimed its national reach.”

Guided tours

Guided tours can be organised during the exhibition for Alpha Bank personnel and student groups, upon request.

Exhibition catalogue

The exhibition is accompanied by the publication/catalogue Alpha Bank/History Ι: Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique, 1924-1947. The publication features a collection of memorabilia, photographs, documents and art, from the rich material of the Historical Archives.

It is divided into 5 sections: buildings, protagonists, 25-year anniversary celebrations, advertisements and memorabilia. It also includes a timeline of the milestones that determined the course of Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique over those crucial years.

Buy the publication Alpha Bank/History Ι: Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique, 1924-1947 on the Alpha Bank e-shop. 

Video

A short historical documentary was produced for the purposes of the exhibition. The documentary features important milestones in the long history of Banque de Crédit Commercial Hellénique from the period 1924-1947. The narration is accompanied by rare evidence from the Alpha Bank Historical Archives.