Valuable insights into “Albina Bank” history revealed by the lecture of digital economic journal “Revista economica” (1899-1918)

Abstract

The paper reveals some valuable insights into “Albina Bank” history from a journalistic lens. This study is based on digital resources, in particular, the Economic Review journal “Revista economica” taking into consideration 20 years (1899-1918). Using a qualitative research method based on narrative inquiry and research techniques correlated to the type of data used, our study resorted to documentary research, historiography or the critical review of the business literature, and discourse analysis. In the analyzed period, the numerous mentions done by Economic Review Journal reveals the prolific activities of Albina Bank, helped and sustained the Romanian spirit and economic initiative. A new attempt of reconstructing the Romanian banking system’s activity of Transylvania was necessary due to the tracing of new possibilities to valorize both sources and a new effort, to achieve its framing within Austro-Hungary’s socio-economic and financial context. Albina Bank should be considered as a prototype, an innovation, as the successful introduction of an idea, perceived as new, into a given social system.