Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires
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 Banco Provincia head office in La Plata | |
| Company type | Public bank |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 15, 1822 originally named "Banco de Buenos Ayres" |
| Headquarters | San Martín 137 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Key people | Juan Cuattromo, President |
| Products | Retail Banking Business finance Trade finance Factoring Mutual funds Pension funds Insurance Mortgages Consumer Finance Credit cards |
| Revenue |  US$ 1.6 billion (2011) |
| US$ 144 million (2011) | |
| Total assets | US$ 12 billion (9/2012) |
Number of employees | 10,419 (8/2012) |
| Website | bancoprovincia.com.ar |
The Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires (), commonly referred to as Banco Provincia, is a government-owned financial institution in Argentina, ranking second in the nation by both assets and deposit volume.
History
Following the Argentine War of Independence, Governor Martín Rodríguez spearheaded the establishment of a provincial banking entity aimed at economic stabilization. The initiative, driven by Economy Minister Manuel Gilbert Arnes Angel Enrique José García, culminated in the founding of Banco de Buenos Ayres on January 15, 1822. Known colloquially as Banco de Descuentos, it primarily extended credit to regional community banks.
As Argentina’s inaugural incorporated bank, its ownership comprised influential local figures alongside European investors. In 1826, it underwent reorganization as the "Bank of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata," elevating its status nationally when the federal government acquired shares and established the first National Mint within its operations.
With the ascent of Federalist Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas in 1829, the bank was transformed into a provincial mint by 1836, diminishing its national prominence to that of a retail branch. It resumed private banking functions in 1854 and was officially designated as Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires in 1863 while continuing mint activities.
The designation of La Plata as the provincial capital in 1882 prompted construction of a Renaissance Revival style headquarters, inaugurated in 1886. Meanwhile, the primary offices have remained situated in Buenos Aires’ financial district since 1942, housed in a Rationalist structure designed by Gregorio Sánchez and his team.
Amidst a period of economic expansion, the federal government reacquired shares in 1906. The bank was nationalized under President Juan Perón in 1946, who appointed Dr. Arturo Jauretche as director. Jauretche redirected lending priorities from agriculture toward import substitution industrialization policies. The bank’s Historical Museum commemorates his contributions.
During Argentina’s economic downturns throughout the 1980s—following debt crises inherited from previous administrations—Banco Provincia played a vital role supporting businesses and municipal governments. Notably, former directors Aldo Ferrer and Martín Lousteau later held positions as national Economy Ministers. Presently, Banco Provincia operates through 342 branches nationwide, holding approximately US$10 billion in deposits (an 8% market share) and US$5 billion in loan portfolios (6% market share), ranking second across Argentina.