The Ottoman Credit National Bank from the Ottoman to the Republic (1917-1927)

The Ottoman Credit National Bank, which was established in line with the national economic policy of the Union and Progress goverment in the last periods of the Ottoman Empire, became one of the important financial institutions that contributed to the development of the national economy and national banking in Türkiye. Despite the limited opportunities during the difficult times of the I. World War, the Ottoman Credit National Bank, which was established with the support of the Turkish nation and goverment, tried to respond to the needs of society and economy by operating in different sectors until 1927, when it merged with Türkiye İş Bankası. In the establishment of the Ottoman Credit National Bank, which became a powerful financial institution with the privileges and concession given by the Union and Progress goverment, it was also aimed to replace the Bank-ı Osmanî-i Şahane (The Ottoman Bank) which had the central bank privilege in the Ottoman Empire for many years. However, after the proclamation of the Republic, the Ottoman Credit National Bank, which was seen as an institution of the previous period, was merged with Türkiye İş Bankası, which was similar in capital and structure, in 1927, upon the need of the new regime. Although the Ottoman Credit National Bank was established in 1917 and merged with Türkiye İş Bankası in 1927, it has been cornerstone in the establishment of the concept of national economy and the development of national banking in Türkiye, even though it has been operating for a short period of about ten years. The our aim in this study; In the process leading up to establishment of the Ottoman Credit National Bank, the aim of the Union and Progress goverment in wanting to establish the bank is to determine the attitude of the Ottoman people in this direction. In this aspect it is hoped that it will bring a new perspective to the researches on the subject. Due to the importance of subject, in the writing process, the Presidental Ottoman Archive, the Presidency Republican Archive, the offical and periodicals, financial reports, research works and memoirs of the Ottoman Credit National Bank and Türkiye İş Bankası were used. As a result, it can be said that: Ottoman Credit National Bank became not only a financial institution but also a symbol of the socio-economic transformantion that started in Turkish society. It has been one of the most concrete developments of Turkish nationalism, which started especially after the Balkan Wars, in the economic field.