Arif Azemi

BKT Kosova

First branch of Banka Kombëtare Tregtare was established in Durrës on 29 November 1925, in the historical building where today's BKT Durrës Branch is situated. This building actually represents the oldest Albanian financial institution in the country. Banka Kombëtare Tregtare (BKT), with today's name, was established in January 1993, after the merging of the Albanian Commercial Bank (ACB) and the National Bank of Albania (NBA). The NBA on the other hand was established in 1992 as a result of a second sub-division of the State Bank of Albania. The NBA was set up to manage the domestic trading activity of the State-owned entities. The assets and liabilities from the activities of these two entities were transferred to BKT accounts since it was first established. Banka Kombëtare Tregtare was established as a Joint Stock Company in July 1997, with assets reaching ALL 2.7 billion. In February 2003, with the decision of the Shareholders'​ General Meeting, the paid-up capital reached the amount of US$ 14, 64 million, turning BKT into the most capitalized bank in the whole Albanian banking system. The year 2006 started with a new vision for BKT. With the authorization of the Bank of Albania and pursuant to the specific court decision issued on June 9, 2006, it was approved the transfer of 60% plus 2 of the BKT shares possessed by Kent Bank in favour of Calik-Seker Konsorsiyum Yatirim A.S. On September 3, BKT opened its branch in Kosova and since that time, BKT Kosova has already opened 27 branches, ranking Banka Kombëtare Tregtare as the largest Albanian bank in the region. On June 30, 2009 Çalik Financial Services buys to IFC and EBRD shares being in this way the only BKT shareholder owning 100 % of the shares. On 30th April 2018 Banka Kombëtare Tregtare Kosova Branch, changes its status from Branch of a Foreign Bank to a subsidiary Bank. Now, its banking license has changed from Banka Kombëtare Tregtare Kosova Branch, to Banka Kombëtare Tregtare Kosovë J.S.C.