Balance sheet data of the National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1884–1940

Balance sheet data of the National Bank in 1884–1940 are analysed in the paper. Data were collected from the National Bank’s annual reports and were classified by financial instrument and sector. The annex to the paper contains a simplified version of the National Bank’s balance sheet as some accounts were aggregated to ensure better readability and clarity. Separate tables show more detailed data on loans to banks and corporates, capital, distribution of profit and net profit of the National Bank, and its reserve fund and other funds. To present the composition of some data in as detailed a manner as possible, such as, for instance, data on loans, it was necessary to carry out additional calculations based on available information from original sources and other publications. For the purposes of this paper, we carried out an analysis of the factors impacting the creation of liquidity (banknotes in circulation and bank and corporate deposits with the National Bank). To better understand the extent to which the National Bank adhered to statutory limitations concerning the circulation and maintenance of the coverage of banknotes, we calculated the regular supply of banknotes in 1898–1919 and the free supply in 1920–1930. We carried out additional calculations of the dinar exchange rate against some currencies in order to present the unit value of a foreign currency against the dinar in accordance with present-day standards. International developments and events with a direct or indirect impact on the National Bank’s balance sheet changes are mentioned several times in the paper.