Main office of Danish Danske Bank, previously known as Sampo Bank (which used to be Finnish one).
Danske Banka is one of 25 banks. Interesting fact that there is a ratio of 1 bank per 40,000 residents if Latvia.
It gets even strange if we do compare to neighboring Lithuania, which has 1 bank per 500,000 residents (7 banks in total)
Piparkūkas is a traditional Latvian cookies, which are sweet and spicy at the same time. In Gallery Riga shopping center you can find the model of Riga City made of piparkukas.
Main office building of recently formed Bank Citadele during Staro Riga event. As usually the best shots are taken by guest photographers from Delfi :)
The main office building of DnB Nord Bank is already in use, although it is not absolutely ready yet. It has the most original shape among all buildings in Riga. Personally it recalls me Grande Arche in Paris. See also another DnB Nord Office in winter.
VEF Bank is one of 21 participants in Latvian banking system. I have never heard anything about VEF Bank. I don't know anybody who has bank account there, hence I can't say anything about it.
This beautiful building built in 1910 in Art Nouveau architecture style is located on Smilsu iela 3. It was headquarter of Parex Bank, the bank which was bought by Latvian government for 2 LVL (3€) 1 year ago. Now the building is empty. The bank is still operating, but in another place.
Just BIG. In fact it is not even a bank, but a company which gives term loans at high interest. Recently BIGBANK became very popular as many Latvian people suffer from lack of money and such banking-house is the only way to get some money quickly. Of course, some people consider such institutions as just another financial trap.
Rietumu Banka (West Bank) was one of the first commercial banks in Latvia after regaining of independence. It was established in 1992, right after USSR Collapse. The name depicts the orientation of the bank - the west. In fact, most of the Rietumu banka's clients are locals and from the East. This building is central office of Rietumu bank, which in fact is in Riga highest building top.
One of the most notorious and infamous banks in Latvia is Aizkraukles Banka (Bank of Aizkraukle town) After financial crisis came to Latvia, AB started to bluff and cheat their customers. After several scandals had happened, the bank took a step backwards, but apparently the problems still exist. Today is the last day for many Aizkraukles Bank branches. This AB office at Ratslaukums is being closed down today as well. BTW, see new webcam at Ratslaukums.
Swedbank main office building in Riga is the tallest skyscraper in Latvia. Actually, the building name is Saules Akmens, which literally means Stone of the Sun. Saules Akmens had been built in 2004, and at that time it was residence of Hansabanka, which had been bought to and renamed to Swedbank in the end of 2008.
Hotel de Rome is one of the few 5 star hotels in Riga. De Rome is situated at the Old town main street Kalku iela. This is quite new hotel, but it had adopted the name of the famous Hotel Roma, which were located in place of modern Hotel Riga.
Last week Riga Stock Exchange has been renamed to NASDAQ OMX Riga, therefore became more reliable part of NASDAQ. Warm advertisement welcomed Riga all day long at Times Square in my favorite city New York. Author of this picture is unknown.
Since a long time I wanted to publish advertisement of Latvijas Krājbanka on the shorter side of Jekaba Kazarmas. The Advertisement depicts bank's presence in each Latvian region, showing coat of arms of all Latvian cities and towns. Please see also Riga escutcheon (part of Riga Coat of Arms)
Interesting Jugendstil building on Terbatas iela with writing in two languages on face and clock on top. In Russian: Рижское Торговое Общество Взаимного Кредита In Latvian: Rīgas Tirgotāju Savstarpīgā Kreditbiedrībā Which means in English: Riga Traders Mutual Loan Guarantee Society
This is building built for cash storage. Quite big, isn't? :) Located in Pardaguava on Valdemara iela, just after Vansu tilts, it is a modern fortress or stronghold where even small design details are defending items which contains for example some sensors.
Do you know who is Mr. Soboleff? Soboleff is a new rising star in Riga. He started to make funny videos in internet just one year ago. After several months he was recruited by draugiem.lv (kinda Latvian myspace) and continued making videos for them. He won some contests and started to work as reporter of Hello, Jūrmala (Latvian version of Star Academy) After just another victory Parex Banka placed a monument to him on Andrejsala. Monument is made of plastic, but it looks impressive :)
Saules Akmens in Latvian means Stone of the Sun. Saules Akmens is tallest Riga skyscraper built for Hansabanka Central Office in 2004. With height 121 meter this building became a notable landmark and the symbol of successful Latvian economics. UPDATE: Since 2008 it is not more the tallest building and more popular under name Swedbank Building.
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