On 2 October this Sunday, the Bank of Lithuania welcomed an uninterrupted chain of citizens and guests of Vilnius who took interest in the event “Open Doors Day – at the Bank of Lithuania” organised for the first time.
On 2 October this Sunday, the Bank of Lithuania welcomed an uninterrupted chain of citizens and guests of Vilnius who took interest in the event “Open Doors Day – at the Bank of Lithuania” organised for the first time. During the event the Bank was attended by up to 5 000 people.
At 10 a.m. the Chairman of the Bank of Lithuania Vitas Vasiliauskas opened the door for the first visitors, welcomed and invited them inside.
“Open doors is an economic education project we have undertaken in order to more widely disseminate knowledge of economics and finance thus contributing to the increase of financial literacy of the public. The number of visitors far beyond the expectations not only suggests of the correctly chosen form of communication with the public but the need for financial knowledge as well. This inspires for similar events in the future”, Vasiliauskas enjoyed.
He and over half a hundred other members of staff of the Bank told the visitors to this year’s Open Doors Day about the activities of the country’s central bank, its exclusive role aimed at financial stability, investment of foreign reserve assets, supervision of credit institutions, forecasting of economic development, management of payment systems. The visitors checked their knowledge acquired taking part in quizzes that were greatly enjoyed by the visitors.
The visitors to the event “Open Doors Day – at the Bank of Lithuania” viewed the old vault from which the first litas banknotes issued after restoration of independence in Lithuania were delivered to banks. The room of the Chairman of the Board and the hall of the Board meetings were open for visitors.
The people were particularly attracted by a banknote pyramid constructed from 20 litas banknotes of 1 000 000 litas in value and the Currency Examination stand. The latter enabled learning about the security features of litas banknotes and how to avoid currency counterfeits. Both young and senior people looked at the Bank’s armoured vehicle which safely transports litas banknotes with curiosity.
During the event, long queues also built up by the modern and attractive Money Museum founded in the premises of the Bank.
By opening its doors to the public, the Bank of Lithuania commemorated its anniversary: it commenced operation on 2 October 1922 – the day the Litas was issued on. 1 October this year marked the 19th anniversary of the development of the national currency system of Lithuania which regained its independence, with talonas notes as the provisional monetary unit. Lithuanian currency under its historical name, litas was reissued on 25 June 1993.
