Sparekassen Balling is the last independent savings bank in Salling and has over 100 years of history behind it.
From a bank in a private home to its own building
Sparekassen Balling was established in 1914. The savings bank was established by 70 locals, most of whom were farmers, who each paid in 50 kroner in guarantee capital. In the early years, the bank was housed in Villaparken 3. The bank’s first manager was Andreas Sørensen Dath. In addition to being the bank’s manager, Dath also provided premises for the bank’s operations in his own home. There were no opening hours, but if Dath was at home, you could deposit and withdraw money.
In the early years, Dath received a salary of DKK 1.5 for attending meetings on office days and DKK 50 per year for renting an office. The rent was increased to DKK 100 per year in 1918 and to DKK 200 per year in 1920. Andreas Dath provided premises for three years. In 1917, Sparekassen moved to premises in Nørregade 49.
The bank’s first accounts showed a loss of a modest DKK 95. The bank’s first accounts from the period April 1, 1915 to March 31, 1916 show total deposits of DKK 47,879.61 on 122 accounts and a total deficit of DKK 95.52. In addition, there were also loans of DKK 52,912.50.
Expansion with more branches
The first considerations to expand with another branch came in 1996. The bank had gradually exhausted its growth opportunities in the local area and began to consider the possibility of opening a branch in Skive. The idea was to offer a small, manageable savings bank with good professional service, face-to-face with well-motivated employees. The focus would be on family advice and as an alternative bank for small businesses.
The decision to establish a branch in Skive was made on February 18, 1997 and announced on March 21, 1997. Architect Andreas Ravn designed the building for the new branch, which was built at Søndergade 11 in Skive. The bank opened on May 30, 1997 in borrowed premises in the neighboring property Søndergade 9, but the inauguration of the new building did not take place until the following year on August 14, 1998.
After more than two years of pressure from Hem og omegns Borgerforening, Sparekassen Balling expanded with another branch on April 4, 2003. The branch was called a “Money Channel” and thus did not function as a real bank branch. It was established in collaboration with Hem Købmandsgård, which meant that the Købmandsgård could serve the savings bank’s customers by accepting and paying out cash. There was always actual banking business, including advisory services in Hem.
In March 2007, the bank opened another city branch, this time in Oddense. The Oddense branch was open two days a week, Monday and Thursday, and the bank had premises in a shop in connection with the former gas station at Strøget 18.
On August 8, 2011, Sparekassen Balling entered Durup with a new branch in temporary premises. The bank set up a pavilion at Brugsen on Tønderingsvej and hired three experienced employees. The bank moved to new, more permanent premises at Tønderingsvej 10 on January 23, 2012.
Under the motto “Only dead fish float with the current”, Sparekassen Balling opened the last branch in Salling on November 23, 2012 in Jebjerg. The branch was opened in rented premises.
Sparekassen Balling closed the branches in Oddense, Durup and Jebjerg at the end of 2014.
In August 2015, the newest branch was opened in Holstebro. According to then CEO Kurt Nielsen, the city was a good fit for the savings bank, as it was felt that Holstebro resembled the savings bank’s local area in terms of culture and mentality. The branch celebrated its 10th anniversary in August 2025.
Frame theft in Balling
On November 26, 2011 at 4:14 a.m., professional thieves drove a forklift into Sparekassen’s Balling branch in Balling and stole a large box containing 100 customer boxes. They also left partisan nails on the road to prevent the police from following them.
Before the break-in in Balling at 04:14, the police received two other reports of bank break-ins. The first came at 03:38 when it was reported that Salling Sparekasse in Vinderup near Holstebro had been broken into. The police believe that these were a diversionary tactic and that the theft in Balling was the real target.
The empty safe deposit box, consisting of 100 customer boxes, was found 4 days later abandoned on the back of a small mini-truck on Gyrovej in Skive. The theft is estimated to have cost the savings bank’s customers around DKK 4 million.
Sources
Utoft, Jens. 100 years in the heart of Salling. 2014
Jørgensen, Henrik Lind. Sparekassen moves south. Skive Folkeblad 29.05.2015