The Savings Bank – Centre of Local Businesses

Influential citizens involved in local industry and commerce have strongly shaped the society of Szeged in the 19th century. They initiated the foundation of the Szeged-Csongrád Savings Bank in 1845 which was the 10th of its kind in the country. Its founder was Gábor Klauzál, the famous Szeged politician, who was representative of Csongrád County in the Houses of Parliament, later, minister of communal works and transportation in the first government formed after the Revolution of 1848. Bernát Back, the well-known Jewish tycoon and nationally famous public person can be found among its presidents as well. The first savings bank was located a few blocks away at the current Klauzál Square. Although its later building (1864) survived the flood of 1879, it had required constant repair works; therefore, it was pulled down at the turn of the 19/20th centuries. Lipót Baumhorn, who had already proved his talent in town with the buildings of the New Synagogue and the community headquarters, was contracted with the new construction. The Eclectic style palace was built between 1903 and 1905, which was furnished by the famous Mór Seifmann furniture-maker. The building with its large and spacious private apartments upstairs and in the court wing (each having 5 rooms) proved to be too large; therefore, a Hungarian-French insurance company rented an office space and shops opened along the Széchenyi Square. Storage spaces were created in the basement for wood, coal and commercial goods. A water reservoir and an utility room were also established in the attic. Later, the Savings Bank, that is still in business, occupied the whole palace.