# Bank of Czechoslovak Legions in Prague

> former bank in Czechoslovakia

**Wikidata**: [Q11046493](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11046493)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legiobanka)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bank-of-czechoslovak-legions-in-prague

## Summary
The Bank of Czechoslovak Legions in Prague, widely known as Legiobanka, was a prominent financial institution in Czechoslovakia that operated from its inception in 1919 until its dissolution in 1955. Established as a joint-stock company, the bank is internationally recognized for its headquarters on Na poříčí street, a masterpiece of rondocubist architecture designed by Josef Gočár.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** 1919
- **Dissolution:** 1955
- **Legal Form:** Joint-stock company
- **Headquarters Address:** Na poříčí 22, Prague II, Czechoslovakia
- **Geographic Coordinates:** 50.089671111111° N, 14.433671944444° E
- **Architectural Designer:** Josef Gočár
- **Primary Industry:** Financial services and monetary intermediation
- **Official Names:** Banka československých legií (1919–1940); Böhmisch-Mährische Bank (1940–1942)
- **Subsidiaries:** Jungbunzlauer Spiritus- und Chemische Fabrik AG
- **Current Building Occupant:** ČSOB (Československá obchodní banka)
- **Classifications:** Bank, business, organization
- **Authority Identifiers:** VIAF: 416149198205674940000; NL CR AUT: vse2017944126 and vse2017944130; PM20: co/072776

## FAQs
**What were the different names used by the Bank of Czechoslovak Legions?**
The institution was originally founded as Banka československých legií in 1919. During the period of 1940 to 1942, it operated under the name Böhmisch-Mährische Bank (Bohemian-Moravian Bank), and it is also commonly referred to by the aliases Legiobanka and Legiobank.

**Who designed the bank's famous headquarters and what is its current status?**
The bank's headquarters building on Na poříčí street was designed by the renowned architect Josef Gočár in the rondocubist style. While the original bank was dissolved in 1955, the building remains a significant architectural landmark in Prague and is currently used by ČSOB.

**What kind of business activities did the bank engage in?**
As a financial institution, it focused on monetary intermediation and financial service activities, excluding insurance and pension funding. It operated as a joint-stock company and held industrial interests, such as its subsidiary Jungbunzlauer, a chemical and spirit factory.

## Why It Matters
The Bank of Czechoslovak Legions serves as a vital historical link to the economic and cultural identity of the first Czechoslovak Republic. Beyond its role as a depository and credit institution for legionnaires, it commissioned one of the most significant examples of rondocubism in the world. This architectural legacy, often called the "Legiobanka style," represents a unique national aesthetic that merged modernism with traditional Slavic motifs. The bank's transition through the mid-20th century—from a nationalistic financial powerhouse to its renaming during the Protectorate and eventual dissolution under the communist regime—mirrors the turbulent political history of Central Europe.

## Notable For
- **Rondocubist Landmark:** Its Prague headquarters is considered the definitive example of rondocubism, a style unique to Czechoslovak architecture in the early 1920s.
- **Legionnaire Origins:** Founded specifically to serve the financial interests of the Czechoslovak Legions following World War I.
- **Industrial Influence:** Controlled significant industrial assets, including the Jungbunzlauer Spiritus- und Chemische Fabrik AG.
- **Multilingual Documentation:** The entity is documented across six language editions of Wikipedia (Czech, English, French, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian) and is cataloged in the 20th Century Press Archives (PM20).

## Body

### Institutional History and Naming
The Bank of Czechoslovak Legions was established in 1919 in the newly formed state of Czechoslovakia. It functioned as a joint-stock company (legal form: P1454) and was a primary financial intermediary for the nation's military veterans. Over its 36-year history, the bank underwent several name changes reflecting the political climate of the era:
*   **1919–1940:** Banka československých legií (Official Name)
*   **1940–1942:** Böhmisch-Mährische Bank (Official Name during the German occupation)
*   **Aliases:** It is frequently cited in historical and architectural texts as Legiobanka, Legiobank, and Bank der tschechoslowakischen Legionen.

The bank was formally dissolved in 1955, ending its tenure as an independent financial entity.

### Architecture and Headquarters
The physical location of the bank is as significant as the institution itself. Located at **Na poříčí 22, Prague II**, the building was designed by **Josef Gočár**. The structure is a premier example of **rondocubism**, characterized by its use of geometric shapes, particularly circles and cylinders, which were intended to evoke a national Czechoslovak style. 
*   **Current Use:** The building is currently occupied by **Československá obchodní banka (ČSOB)**.
*   **Visual Documentation:** The building is extensively documented in the Wikimedia Commons category "Bank of the Czechoslovak Legions, Prague."

### Corporate and Industrial Operations
The bank operated within the industry of **financial services** and **monetary intermediation**. According to NACE classifications found in the 20th Century Press Archives, its activities included "other monetary intermediation" and "financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding."
*   **Subsidiaries:** The bank held a controlling interest in **Jungbunzlauer Spiritus- und Chemische Fabrik AG**, demonstrating a reach into the chemical and spirits industry.
*   **Classifications:** It is classified as an instance of a **bank**, **business**, and **organization**. As a bank, it functioned as a financial institution that accepted deposits and acted as a credit institution.

### Authority Records and Identifiers
The bank is meticulously cataloged in international knowledge bases and library systems:
*   **VIAF ID:** 416149198205674940000
*   **National Library of the Czech Republic (NL CR):** vse2017944126 (as Banka československých legií) and vse2017944130 (as Českomoravská banka v Praze).
*   **PM20 Folder ID:** co/072776 (Bank der Čechoslovakischen Legionen).
*   **Google Knowledge Graph:** /g/121swzlt.
*   **Wikidata:** The entity is described as a "former bank in Czechoslovakia" with a sitelink count of 6.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. 20th Century Press Archives
3. Czech National Authority Database