Komerční banka is one of the main bank

Bank

A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...

s in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....

. It serves about 1.5 million customers in more than 350 branches

Branch (banking)

A branch, banking center or financial center is a retail location where a bank, credit union, or other financial institution offers a wide array of face-to-face and automated services to its customers....

.

The bank was founded in 1990 following separation of commercial activities from the former Státní banka československá (State Bank

State bank

A state bank is generally a financial institution that is chartered by a state. It differs from a reserve bank in that it does not necessarily control monetary policy , but instead usually offers only retail and commercial services.A state bank that has been in operation for five years or less is...

 of Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...

). In 1992, the bank was partially privatized

Privatization

Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...

 in voucher privatization

Voucher privatization

Voucher privatization is a privatization method where citizens are given or can inexpensively buy a book of vouchers that represent potential shares in any state-owned company...

. In 2001, the government sold its 60% stake in the bank to Société Générale

Société Générale

Société Générale S.A. is a large European Bank and a major Financial Services company that has a substantial global presence. Its registered office is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, while its head office is in the Tours Société Générale in the business district of La...

 for 40 CZK billion.

Komerční banka Award

On May 4, 2005, Komerční banka signed an agreement with Národní divadlo in Prague to annually honor the most prominent acts performed at the Czech National Theatre in overall three categories - ballet

Ballet

Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...

, drama

Drama

Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...

 and opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

.
Apart from a statue designed by the academic Jaroslav Róna

Jaroslav Róna

Jaroslav Róna is a Czech sculptor, painter, actor, educator, and writer.-Works:*Franz Kafka bronze statue, Dusni Street , historic Jewish Quarter, Prague; inspired by the events in the Description of a Struggle*The Angel Award statuette *The Komerční banka Award statuette*Book, Umanuté kresby,...

, each winner also receives an amount of 100,000 CZK. The first ceremony was held on October 26, 2006 at the stage of Národní divadlo.