Július Markovič

(*21 December 1860 in Hrachov – †19 December 1913 in Vienna, Austria)

He studied medicine in Vienna (1884), then settled in Myjava where he had set up a medical practice and was also involved in national revival activities. He was the first Slovak doctor to start research of tuberculosis on a scientific basis. Later he moved to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, where he continued his medical practice and national enlightenment activities; he also founded Považské noviny (Považie newspaper) in 1892.
He was persuaded of the necessity of establishing financial institutions to serve the needs of the Slovak national emancipation movement. That was why he established Ľudová banka in Nové Mesto nad Váhom in 1896. In doing so, he cooperated with catholic and evangelic priests, craftsmen and small farmers.

The bank helped get rid of usury and strengthen the economic situation of Slovaks in the Middle Váh region. Július Markovič was the bank's administrator until his death in 1913. He also sat on the boards of Tatra banka, Trenčianska banka and Ústredná banka in Budapest.
As the most prominent figure of Slovak financial sector of that period, he actively participated in consultation meetings of Slovak banks held from 1908. He promoted the formation of an association of Slovak financial institutions and establishment of a strong Slovak bank in Budapest.