- Despite being large and in a central location, the former bank building often goes unnoticed, being overshadowed by the City Hall, the spacious town square, a monumental theatre.
- The bank was built in 1911 in the geometric Vienna Secession style.
- The designer of this building was Budapest architect Alfréd Hajós, a Jewish man who also went down in the history books for winning two of Hungary’s three gold medals in swimming at the first modern Olympic games, which were held in Athens in 1896.
- In 1924, Hajós won an Olympic medal in architecture. That’s because at the Olympic Games from 1912 to 1948, medals were awarded in five art categories – painting, music, sculpture, literature, and architecture – for works inspired by sports.
- With its rounded symmetrical façade, the building links together three spaces. The two stone beehives placed on the mansard symbolise the collection of money, which is important for savings and banking.
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