İşbank Museum

The first permanent exhibition area of our Museum presents—through thematic and chronological sections—the concept of economic independence, which became a defining ideal with the founding of the Republic. In this exhibition, which gives the Museum its name, Turkey’s program of economic independence is narrated in parallel with the role undertaken by Türkiye İş Bankası in support of this national objective.
Located on the ground floor, the exhibition highlights the historical developments that led to the establishment of a national bank, the founding of İş Bankası, its rapid progress during its first decade, its investments in various industrial sectors, its subsidiaries operating in different fields, and the opening of its first international branches.

On the first floor are several historically preserved spaces: the Blue Hall, where Atatürk’s photograph was taken during his visit to the building on 22 October 1929 and which served as the Bank’s first Board of Directors meeting room; the Grand Meeting Hall, which still hosts İş Bankası’s Board meetings today; and the office of Celal Bayar, the Bank’s first General Manager. This floor also features an exhibition on the Bank’s headquarters buildings from its founding to the present.

On the second floor, the exhibition “A Century with Turkey’s Bank: The Security of Your Future” highlights Türkiye İş Bankası’s contributions to the country's social, economic, and cultural development throughout its 100-year history. The exhibition focuses on major social responsibility projects the Bank has supported since its establishment, covering education, the environment, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and culture and the arts.

In the basement level, visitors can explore the Safe Deposit Vault, known as the “Customer’s Fortress.”

A Century with Turkey’s Bank: The Security of Your Future

Prepared in honor of Türkiye İş Bankası’s 100th anniversary, this exhibition presents the Bank’s century-long journey. Alongside its core banking activities, it showcases extensive work carried out in education, environmental stewardship, science, sports, culture and the arts, and entrepreneurship—all central to the Bank’s mission of contributing to society.

Located on the Museum’s second floor, the exhibition begins with the Bank’s long-standing social responsibility initiatives. The section titled “Our Greatest Investment Is in the Future” presents collaborations with educational institutions; “Toward a More Equal World” highlights efforts aimed at promoting equality; and “For Entrepreneurs with Big Dreams” features projects that support entrepreneurial innovation, all illustrated with rich written and visual content.

Under the theme “The World Is Ours, the Future Is Ours,” visitors can explore İş Bankası’s sustainability initiatives, including forest and marine conservation efforts, technological support for agricultural production, and the Bank’s long-term commitments for the future.

Another key section presents the Bank’s cultural contributions through İş Bankası Cultural Publications, active since 1956, and the wide range of performing and visual arts events organized under the İş Sanat brand since 2000. The exhibition also highlights the Bank’s extensive support for cultural heritage preservation, archaeology projects, and museology.

A further section showcases the Bank’s long-standing involvement in sports—from supporting national wrestlers in the 1930s to today’s sponsorships of the Turkish Chess Federation and the Turkish National Olympic Committee—emphasizing its vision for carrying this legacy into its second century.

Visitors are also invited into the Bank’s century-long advertising journey. Beginning in 1924, the Bank’s advertisements evolved and diversified over the decades, blending creativity with messages that reflect their time. These materials offer a rare insight into the early history of both the Bank and advertising in Turkey.

Atatürk Library

Established as a public gift in celebration of Türkiye İş Bankası’s 100th anniversary, the Atatürk Library is located on the fourth floor of the Museum of Economic Independence.
The library offers more than 4,000 printed works, over 29,000 e-books, more than 7,000 Turkish and foreign periodicals, 2,500 academic journals, and extensive databases containing 45,000 documents, including Ottoman Turkish publications.
Focusing primarily on themes such as Atatürk, the Turkish War of Independence, the History of the Republic, and Economic History, the library provides reading and meeting rooms for students, academics, and researchers.