2011-09-27
By opening its doors the Bank of Lithuania will give a chance to be acquainted with the Bank from inside
This Sunday, 2 October, citizens and quests of Vilnius will be provided with a possibility to participate in the arrangement ”At the Bank of Lithuania – Doors Open“ organised here for the first time.
”The Bank of Lithuania, similar to other central banks, is safeguarded reliably, so it is not easy to get inside it. But our aim is an open to the public and transparent organisation. Therefore, on the occasion of the Litas birthday we kindly invite you to the Doors Open arrangement at the Bank of Lithuania during which each visitor will be introduced to many interesting things of the money world,” said Mr Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania.
In the acquaintance with the Bank of Lithuania programme – a glance to the old vault from which the first Litas banknotes began their travelling to banks. The room of the Chairman of the Board and the Board Sessions Hall will be open to visitors. This hall is one of the most decorative halls in the Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Classicism style premises built over a hundred year ago specifically for a bank.
During the Doors Open arrangement the Bank of Lithuanian officials will speak about the Litas banknotes and coins way to life, how foreign exchange and gold reserves obligatory to ensure the Litas stability are accumulated, about the bank supervision to make the financial system stable and deposits in credit institutions safe, about the birth of economic development forecasts, about the management of payment systems of the Bank of Lithuania. A questionnaire and awards are waiting for the arrangement participants.
The visitors will also be able to see a pyramid made of 1 million Litas banknotes. They will be provided with a possibility to see closely an armoured vehicle of the Bank transporting cash safely. During the arrangement a modern and attractive Money Museum founded in the Bank premises will be open.
This arrangement is devoted to commemorate the Bank of Lithuania birthday: the Bank started its activities on 2 October 1922 – on the day the Litas was put into circulation. The Bank of Lithuania, established on 1 March 1990, has been continuing traditions of the central bank that operated in the period before the war.
The Vilnius Land Bank buildings wherein the Bank of Lithuania is currently located (in Vilnius, Gedimino Av.6) were built in 1889-1891. This is the first building in Vilnius constructed specifically for a bank, containing modern to that time vaults and special equipment.