Every day, people beside us change city, country, continent, homeland. They chart new paths and start a new life filled with memories, feelings, and experiences. Relying on their identity and the power of their survival instinct, they seek to integrate into the new environment, interacting with the society that welcomes them.

In modern Greek history, significant population movements have taken place. One major movement occurred in the early 20th century, under the Treaty of Lausanne, when many people started new lives in new places. Their settlement brought practical challenges such as housing, employment, and managing abandoned properties, requiring organized coordination during a time of great change for the Greek state.

To ensure the smooth settlement of refugees, on May 5, 1925, the National Bank signed a contract with the Greek State, taking a key role in resettling these populations. Specifically, the Bank managed exchangeable Muslim properties, issued bond loans secured by these properties, and provided entitled urban refugees with advances to accelerate compensation and generally support refugees settling in cities.

Narratives Beyond Borders

On the anniversary of this important milestone and the upcoming 50-year celebration since the reactivation of the National Bank’s Historical Archive during the Metapolitefsi era, an exhibition titled “Refugees after the Treaty of Lausanne. The National Bank contributes to their integration in the new homeland” is being organized. It highlights both the Bank’s long-standing social role and the significance of the unique documents preserved in its Historical Archive for understanding modern Greek history.

The exhibition features diverse archival material from the Historical Archive’s collections, stemming from the National Bank’s administrative activities, as well as works from its Art Collection. It sheds light on a period that gradually reshaped today’s Greek society. The exhibition includes audiovisual and digital applications specially created for the event, along with archival footage, interviews, and photos kindly provided by other institutions, such as the ERT Archive, the Dentistry School Archive of EKPA, the Historical Archive of EKPA, the Center for Asia Minor Studies, COSMOTE TV/OTE SA, the National Bank Educational Foundation – Greek Literary and Historical Archive (MIET-ELIA), the Near East Foundation Archives, and private individuals. The exhibition is organized around two main themes: the first highlights the National Bank’s role and actions in managing the refugee issue, and the second offers general information on refugee identity and settlement in their new homelands.

The exhibition transports visitors back to a turbulent era when the National Bank played a crucial role in supporting the state’s vast efforts to effectively receive refugees in Greece.

It will be hosted at the Small Stock Exchange, a unique monument of modern architectural heritage, from December 13, 2025, to April 19, 2026. Visitors will gain insight into an era that defined the trajectory of the modern Greek state and the multidimensional character of Greek society.