Former Banque de l'Indochine Building

Former Banque de l'Indochine Building

The Former Banque de l'Indochine Building is a protected cultural heritage site of Tianjin.

Former Banque de l'Indochine Building

Era: 1912

Address: No. 77–79 Jiefang North Road, Heping District, Tianjin

Category: Important Modern Historical Site and Representative Architecture

The French Banque de l'Indochine was founded in 1875, with its headquarters in Paris. The Tianjin branch was established in 1898. The bank’s main businesses included import/export, documentary credits, and foreign exchange trading. After the liberation of Tianjin, it was designated by the Bank of China Tianjin Branch as the exclusive bank for foreign exchange operations. It ceased operations and underwent liquidation in 1956, ending nearly 60 years of history in Tianjin and becoming the last foreign bank to close in the city.

The building was constructed in 1912. It borders Zhang Zizhong Road to the east, Chengde Avenue to the south, Jiefang North Road to the west, and Chifeng Avenue to the north. It covers a land area of 1,244 square meters, with a floor space of 3,651 square meters. It was built by the Belgian-owned Société Belge d’Entreprises à l’Étranger (SBE) according to blueprints provided by the bank’s Paris headquarters. The structure consists of three floors with a basement, built using brick and concrete. The base is constructed of stone slabs, the first floor’s exterior is finished with horizontal cement bands, while the second and third floors feature red brick exposed walls decorated with various patterns. The parapet is adorned with Western classical vase-style railings. The main entrance is divided into two raised platforms, connected by an ornamental hollow iron gate. A four-sloped pavilion originally stood at the roof corner. It is a representative example of Western eclectic architectural style. The building remains in good condition today.