The article examines the active operations of the Pskov branch of the main bank of the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century and the reasons for their weak development. The Pskov branch opened its operations in 1865, being located for a long time either in government premises or renting private apartments. Only in 1910 did the branch acquire its own building. Among the branches of the State Bank, this branch was one of those that served a very narrow circle of business people of the Pskov province. Situated in a poorly developed economic region, the branch could not claim any significant financing of the local national economy. In addition, the poorly organized work of the branch, excessive bureaucratization of the loans made prevented it from achieving decent results in providing local business circles with cheap credit. An important role in the unsuccessful activities of the branch was also played by the accounting and loan committee, which was very careless about its duties.