In the late 19th and early 20th century in Novgorod province were represented in almost all credit institutions that had been spread in the Russian Empire: governmental, public and private, institutions of small credits. But Novgorod was not the offices of joint-stock commercial banks, primarily because in the second half of 19th - early 20th century it was not considered a major center of trade. This made Novgorod and the province in general unattractive for large Bank capital [1].

However, the separation between commercial banks in the Novgorod province was established. They became the Moscow branch of the United Bank in the district center of Staraya Russa. United Bank was founded in 1909 by the merger of several credit institutions of the so-called "Polyakov" group, which came in disorder.

 Brothers Polyakovs were major businessmen and bankers, closely related to Russian and foreign business circles. In Polyakovs Empire consisted of several large banks, developed or which was under their full or partial control. full liquidation of the bankrupt groups was not in the interests of business and Government Bank, which itself was the largest creditor Polyakovs (by 23.8 million). Part of disadvantaged businesses and institutions of the group had to be eliminated.

The new Bank under the name United was opened in November 1908 by the merger of the Moscow International Trade Bank, South-Russian Industrial Bank and Orlovsky Bank. From 25 million rubles to his fixed capital formation 17.5 million was immediately written off on repayment of losses of the former owners. His actual owner was the Ministry of Finance, the state Bank has reserved a third of the shares of the new institution. The new management of the Bank (Polyakovs actually lost control of it) did not seek to extend the momentum through the development of speculative operations, corresponding to the former owners. Significantly increased the number of provincial offices (in 1914 - 99).

One such provincial Bank has become and its separation in Staraya Russa - the district center Novgorod province. The first information about it date from 1912-1914. [2] In his state was as follows: Trustee - N. M. Tumanov, accountant, assistant, cashier, accountant, three assistant, only 8 people.

The office of United Bank in Staraya Russa worked until the outbreak of the first world war and revolutions, in general, quite a bit, but managed to overtake almost all old Russian operations public Bank and other banks of the province, excluding the offices of the State and of the Novgorod city public Bank:

THE TURNOVER OF CREDIT INSTITUTIONS OF THE NOVGOROD PROVINCEin 1915 (rounded in millions of rubles) [3]

 From these data it follows that the branch of the United Bank in Staraya Russa developed mainly operation account bill (borrowed letters) and accept deposits from the public, practically leaving aside the issuance of loans under the various liens (including under things). It was connected with the need to build storage space for taken the pledge items and pay the staff of appraisers and watchmen, as in pawnshops. Joined the Bank as a commercial institution (unlike public banks) were not keen to spend the profit on these costs of being indebted "Polyakov" Empire. Bills Staraya Russa branch of the United Bank in some cases has reached 100 thousand rubles and more, while at a local public Bank - no more than 1000 rubles Indirectly the activities of the office of the United Bank prevented (among other reasons) to the opening in Staraya Russa branch of the State Bank (1914).

Novgorod governorate was associated with the United Bank not only through its office in Staraya Russa. Some managers updated credit institutions previously supervised the work of the Novgorod branch of the State Bank. So, in 1909 and 1912 to the Board of the United Bank entered accordingly P. F. Odarchenko and D. E. Kurilenko, which in stay by the inspectors of the state Bank conducted its audit of the Novgorod Department in 1900 and 1902 [4]

After the October revolution, the Staraya Russa's branch of the United Bank was nationalized and during 1918-1920, his works eliminated.

2 – State archive of the Novgorod oblast (GANO). F. 535. Inv. 1. Un. 1. S. 28. The memorable book of the Novgorod province for the year 1914. Novgorod, 1914. P. 88.

3 – GANO. F. 98. Inv. 3. Un. 2041. S. 91-92.

4 – RGIA. F. 587. Inv. 33, Un. 1070. About audit of the Novgorod branch of the State Bank. S. 4, 15.