The Dolj branch of the National Bank of Romania (Banca Națională a României) is housed in a historic building completed in 1888 in central Craiova. Constructed specifically for the bank, it combines Neoclassical architecture with elaborate decorative elements characteristic of the reign of King Carol I.
The National Bank of Romania was established in 1880, and its Craiova branch began operating in March 1881 from rented premises. As part of the bank’s expansion, a permanent headquarters was constructed between 1887 and 1888 under the supervision of contractors Dimitrie Nedelcu and Domenico Costa, who had previously worked on the bank’s branch in Galați. The first director of the Craiova branch was Elefterie Cornetti, a local banker and philanthropist who later helped establish the city’s Cornetti School of Music.
Built from brick and carved stone, the building is distinguished by its symmetrical façade, classical pilasters, ornamental window frames, and elaborate entrance. Its interior was organized around a central banking hall, approximately seven meters high, with decorative columns, chandeliers, mosaic floors, and richly finished doors and windows. The basement accommodated the bank’s treasury and cashier facilities.
The building underwent extensive consolidation and restoration between 2015 and 2018, including repairs to its façades, roof, and historic interiors. The project also restored the cast-iron columns in the main banking hall and reconstructed its decorative skylight.
