Lånekontoret - Oslo, Norway

Lånekontoret is the only pawnshop in Norway. It all started with a royal decree in 1888, a license granted to Kristiania Folkebank. The objective was to be a loan institution that would run its business partly on a social basis. The practice was that profits from auctions, regardless of operating profit, should go to humanitarian purposes.

In the bank's board meeting on 5 July 1888, it was decided that the mortgage interest should be 2% per month divided by half a month (today one month), the minimum mortgage amount was set at NOK 1. (a loaf of bread cost about 15 øre, a liter of milk about 5 øre) and the minimum interest amount was set at 10 øre.

The mortgage business had steady growth until 1912, when there were 11 offices in Oslo. After this, the business has fluctuated in  

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line with the situation (unemployment/industrial revolution/war etc.) in society.

After various acquisitions and mergers of banks in Norway, Lånekontoret is today owned by AB för Varubelåning.

The loan office has undergone extensive development in recent years. The business is consolidated into an office with premises at Kirkegata 19 in Oslo. We have also held our auctions from this address. From 2018, all auction operations have taken place online.

The loan office annually distributes funds for humanitarian purposes.