A 161-Year Journey to Success

1863-1888

• On November 20, 1863, Mithat Pasha established the Memleket Sandıkları (Homeland Funds) in the town of Pirot, laying the foundation for what is now Ziraat Bank.

• Türkiye’s first statutorily regulated credit system was launched.

• Mithat Paşa’s Homeland Funds were reconstituted as Menafi Sandıkları (Benefit Funds) to become stronger and more sustainable. This way, funds acquired a stronger and continuous structure.

• The General Directorate of Ziraat Bank commenced operations.

1889-1913

• Ziraat Bank extended credit to the Imperial Treasury for the first time.

• Ziraat Bank supplied credit to supply grain to needy refugees and others in drought-stricken İzmit.

• A project to fund purchases of European agricultural equipment using Ziraat Bank’s capital was being studied.

• Ziraat Bank offices were opened in Kerek, İpek, Prizren, Timişoara and Karacasu.

• Ziraat Bank provided drought-stricken Kosovo farmers with low-cost credit on convenient terms.

• Ziraat Bank opened a branch in Medina.

• Ziraat Bank opened branches in Baghdad and Basra.

• Ziraat Bank branches provided earthquake-stricken farmers with loans.

1914-1938

• Ziraat Bank began lending to commercial enterprises.

• The Ziraat Bank Banking School began instruction in order to keep the Bank supplied with the qualified human resources that it needs

• The first seed-finance loans were provided.

• First general deferment was granted on agricultural loans.

• With the opening of the Grand National Assembly in Ankara, the city’s Ziraat Bank branch was made responsible for the administration and oversight of all Bank branches and offices in localities controlled by the Nationalists.

• Control of Ziraat Bank’s İzmir and İstanbul operations was given to Ankara.

1939-1963

• Work was completed on the set of operational regulations called for by Statute 3202. Consisting of 198 articles, the regulations governing the operations of Ziraat Bank went into effect.

• Ziraat Bank became a member of Confédération Internationale du Crédit Agricole (CICA), a non-profit worldwide association of banks and other entities interested and involved in rural financial processes.

• Under Statute 7052, Ziraat Bank was authorized to restructure agricultural loan repayments.

1964-1988

• Ziraat Bank’s representative office opened in Hamburg.

• Ziraat Bank opened its Lefkoşa, Gazimağusa, and Güzelyurt branches in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

• The New York Representative Office was converted into a branch office. Additionally, new Representative Offices were established in Duisburg, Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, and Rotterdam.

• Under the Ziraat Bank 86 project, the first steps to adapt improvements in technology to banking services to deliver them faster, more efficiently, and of better quality were taken with the automation of a total of 7 branches located in Ankara and İstanbul.

• Ziraat Bank ranked 452nd among “The World’s 500 Biggest Banks as Measured by Equity” according to Euromoney magazine.

1989-2012

• The first investment fund (Fund I) was established.

• Gold sales were initiated under the name of Ziraat Gold. The first consumer loan was extended. The first credit card was issued. The Bingöl-Muş Rural Development Project was initiated.

• “Self-Service Banking” app was launched. In Türkiye, foreign currency exchange machines were introduced, alongside ATMs. Additionally, self-service information terminals and voice messaging systems were implemented. The Bingöl-Muş Rural Development Project also featured a branch that operated without human staff, ensuring uninterrupted, round-the-clock service.

• Ziraat Bank Moscow, Kazkommerts Ziraat International Bank (KZI Bank), Turkmen Turkish Commercial Bank (TTC Bank), and Uzbekistan Turkish Bank (UT Bank) were established and went into operation.

• Ziraat Bank ranked 202nd in Euromoney’s “Top 500 Banks,” 41st in terms of net profit, and the world’s first in terms of its return on equity. Moreover, the Bank ranked 12th in the “World’s 50 Most Rapidly Developing Banks” listing.

• Sofia Branch opened.

• The Stuttgart, Hannover, Frankfurt, and Duisburg representative offices were converted into branches. Newly-launched banking software made it easier to create and offer new products and services.

• Turkish-Ziraat Bank Bosnia DD obtained Visa and Europay International licenses and began processing Visa acquiring and issuing transactions for the first time in Bosnia-Herzegovina in coordination with Ziraat Kart A.Ş.

• The Law numbered 4603, passed on 25 November 2000, paved the way for Ziraat Bank to be transformed into a joint-stock company.

• The scope of the banking software centralization project (Fin@rt) was expanded.

• In Greece, the Athens and Komotini branches went into operation.

• The Bank announced TL 3,511 million net profit, the highest profit ever announced by a Turkish company until 2009.

• Branches were opened in Baghdad, Erbil and Jeddah.

• Ziraat Bank acquired the rights to the Turkish Cup name.

• Ziraat Bank launched its “Together, to a Better Future” Change & Transformation Project.

2013-2016

• Ziraat Bank celebrated its first century and a half in business with its employees.

• On September 30, 2014, the Board of Directors approved and announced the Sustainability Policy, which summarizes Ziraat Bank’s sustainability vision, goals, and approach and defines the Bank’s stance on the pillars of the environment, society, and products and services.

• Ziraat Bank published its first sustainability report, which was GRI rated at A+ standards.

• Ziraat Bank topped the 2014 corporate income tax league table.

• Ziraat Katılım Bank commenced operations.

• The Bank’s Pristine Branch opened in Kosovo.

• Ziraat Bank Azerbaijan ASC commenced operations.

• Ziraat Bank was designated “Europe’s 2nd Most Robust Bank.”

• Ziraat Bank Montenegro AD commenced operations.

• In keeping with its principle of sustainable profitability, Ziraat Bank reported 2015 profits amounting to TL 5,162 million, the highest of Turkish banking sector.

• The Marneuli Branch in Georgia and the Bahrain Branch in Manama/Bahrain were opened.

• Ziraat Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. was established and commenced operations on November 1, 2016.

• Ziraat Bank wrote a net profit of TL 6,576 million in 2016, while reporting TL 358 billion of assets at the end of 2016.

2017

• In 2017, the Georgia branch was restructured into a new bank and JSC Ziraat Bank Georgia was established.

• The name of the subsidiary bank in Uzbekistan, in which Ziraat Bank’s share in the capital increased to 100%, was changed to Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan JSC.

• Ziraat Bank reached an asset size of TL 434 billion in 2017.

2018

• The Bank’s own brand Bankkart was launched in the first quarter of 2018.

• Young Farmers Academy project, which was developed by the Bank to bring a new perspective to agricultural production and agricultural banking, was launched with the objectives of increasing young population’s interest in farming, teaching specific topics in agricultural production and investment, raising conscious young farmers and creating an awareness of agricultural entrepreneurship.

• Ziraat Girişim Sermayesi Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş. (Ziraat Venture Capital Investment Trust) has been established as a subsidiary of the Bank, and transactions related to establishment were completed with its registration notice published in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette on November 14, 2018.

• The asset size of Ziraat Bank reached TL 537 billion in 2018, exceeding the half-trillion mark.

2019

• Ziraat Bank’s asset size grew by 21% compared to 2018 to reach TL 650 billion.

• Ziraat Bank became the bank with the highest brand value in Türkiye.

• Ziraat Bank was named the most loved bank brand in Türkiye for the fourth time in a row.

• Ziraat Leasing was merged with Ziraat Katılım Bank.

• Asset management companies owned by three state banks merged under the name of Ziraat Portföy Yönetim A.Ş.

2020

• Ziraat Bank’s paid-in capital was raised to TL 13.1 billion from TL 6.1 billion.

• Ziraat Bank’s asset size grew by 45% compared to its 2019 level to reach TL 943 billion.

• The number of locations providing services abroad reached 113.

• Within the scope of the project to bring insurance/life-pension companies owned by public banks under a single roof, Ziraat Sigorta A.Ş. (Insurance) and Ziraat Hayat ve Emeklilik A.Ş. (Life and Pension) were transferred to the Türkiye Wealth Fund.

• The Bank continued to provide financing support for the agricultural sector under the project “Köyümde Yaşamak İçin Bir Sürü Nedenim Var
  (I Have Many Reasons to Live in My Village),” which it put into practice in September 2020.

• The Green, Social, Sustainable Finance Framework was prepared and published on the Bank’s website.

2021

• Ziraat Bank’s asset size reached TL 1,371 billion, an increase of 45% compared to 2020.

• Türkiye’s real estate giant, Ziraat GYO (Real Estate Investment Trust), was offered to the public.

• Ziraat Bank issued its first Sustainability Bond in international markets.

• Ziraat Bank’s 5^th branch in Bulgaria was opened in Burgas, while its subsidiary, Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan JSC, opened its 5th branch in Fergana. Ziraat Bank Azerbaijan ASC’s 6th branch opened in Azadlık.

2022

• Ziraat Bank’s asset size increased by 68.6% compared to 2021 to reach TL 2,312 billion.

• The seventh branch of Ziraat Bank Azerbaijan ASC opened in Baku, and the sixth branch of Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan JSC opened in Andijan.

• Ziraat Bank secured its first sustainability-themed syndication loan. This loan, amounting to USD 1.3 billion, is the largest sustainability-themed syndication loan ever secured by a bank in Türkiye at one time.

• Within the scope of “Financing the Agricultural Ecosystem,” the Young Farmer’s Loan, the Women Farmer’s Loan, the Gold Hive Loan, the Loan for Solar Powered Agricultural Irrigation, the Producer Cooperative Loan, and the Agricultural Transfer Loan were offered to customers.

• With the new organizational structuring carried out at the Bank, work on the coordination and development of sustainability activities in the environmental, social and governance area were initiated under the Project Finance and Sustainability Department.

• Within the scope of the Zero Waste Project, the Zero Waste Certificate was obtained for 1,365 facilities from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.

• Ziraat Bank obtained the international I-REC certificate by procuring 50,000 MWh of its 2022 electricity consumption from renewable energy sources.

• Ziraat Bank initiated its Open Banking activities,

• Ziraat Super Branch was commissioned as Ziraat Bank’s Digital Branch service model.

2023

• Ziraat Bank’s asset size reached TL 3,800 billion in 2023, an increase of 64.4% compared to 2022.

• Ziraat Bank conducted its first sustainability reporting by reporting to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), with the first sustainability score announced in January 2024. As a result of the evaluation carried out by CDP-Carbon Disclosure Project, the Bank achieved significant success by receiving an A-grade in the Water Security category and a B-grade in the Climate Change category.

• The Sustainability Committee was established and chaired by a Board Member.

• Ziraat Bank updated its sustainability policy in accordance with national and international developments.

• Ziraat Bank secured a sustainability-themed syndication loan of USD 1.3 billion in total (USD 418 million and EUR 784 million) with a maturity of 367 days.

• Ziraat Bank completed the establishment of the Remittance Flows Based Securitization Program (Diversified Payments Rights - DPR) and issued a total of USD 1 billion under the program, with a 2-year grace period and a 5-year maturity.

• Ziraat Bank launched the 2023 KGF Support and Investment Support Packages within the scope of the Investment Incentive Certificate (YTB) for all SME and non-SME customers who require collateral support for investment or working capital financing.

• Within the framework of the cooperation protocol signed with the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), the Zero-Maturity Export Credit Package was offered to exporters.

• The establishment preparations of Ziraat Finansal Teknolojiler Ödeme Hizmetleri ve Elektronik Para A.Ş (ZiraatPay) have been completed, and the system is planned to become operational in due course.

• The permit to establish Ziraat Dinamik Banka A.Ş., the first digital bank established under the ownership of a financial group in our country, was received from the BRSA.

• Ziraat Super Branch reached a customer base of 750,000 by the end of the year.

• The Ziraat Super Platform, which offers special advantages for Ziraat Super Branch customers in non-banking products and services, was put into practice.

• The Live Response Customer Representative was activated.

• A Cyber Security Center structure was established within the Ziraat Finance Group.

• Following the integration of power of attorney inquiry with the Notaries Union of Türkiye (TNB), integrations for “Signature Circular Inquiry” and “Inheritance Certificate Inquiry” transactions were completed.

• With the systematic improvements carried out, the Land Registry Secure Account application can also be implemented through the Ziraat Bank Internet Branch and Mobile Banking channels.

• The “Credit Monitoring Module” launched within the scope of Credit Risk Monitoring activities terminated messaging traffic involving approximately 1 million or more e-mails each month.

• Ziraat Bank has gradually expanded the Key Global Project, which it developed for the use of overseas units.

• Mobile Banking applications were introduced in Kosovo, Iraq, and Bulgaria.

• The 8th branch of Ziraat Finance Group in Azerbaijan, Babek Branch, officially opened.

2024

• Ziraat Bank obtained the Renewable Energy Resource Guarantee System (YEK-G) Certificate for 2024.

• The Sederek Branch, the ninth branch of Ziraat Finance Group in Azerbaijan, officially opened.

• Ziraat Bank, VakıfBank, Halkbank, Ziraat Katılım, Vakıf Katılım, Emlak Katılım, and PTT ATMs have been consolidated under the name “TAM” to simplify banking transactions from a single point.

• The “Ziraat Bank 3rd Agricultural Ecosystem Meeting” took place at the Istanbul Haliç Congress Center.

• Ziraat Bank issued a USD 500 million sustainability bond with a five-year maturity in international markets.

• Ziraat Bank obtained a license to open a Representative Office in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).

• Ziraat Bank received approval from the Central Bank of Egypt to operate as a Representative Office.

• Ziraat Bank announced that exporting companies can access cost-effective loans of up to USD 5 million or TL 150 million through the Export Full Support Credit Package.

• With participation from 70 banks across 32 countries, Ziraat Bank secured a syndication loan of USD 1.7 billion in total (USD 742 million and EUR 884 million), renewing the loan provided in 2023 by 132%.

• Ziraat Bank has commenced preparatory work on the “Ziraat 1-2-3 Solar Power Plant (SPP)” project in the Pınarbaşı District of Kayseri Province to meet the electricity needs of its service units throughout Türkiye.