“The key to our success lies in understanding the times and crafting the right strategies.”
The story of Altınbaş Holding, one of Turkey’s leading family-owned business groups, began in the 1950s in Gaziantep with its founder Mehmet Altınbaş.
What started as a small goldsmith’s workshop soon grew into a journey of vision, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship. By mastering the art of jewelry making, Mehmet Altınbaş laid the foundation for what would later become Altınbaş Jewelry — today a globally recognized brand.
In 1975, Altınbaş Jewelry opened its first retail store in Gaziantep. A decade later, in 1985, the company expanded into wholesale operations at Istanbul’s historic Cuhacı Han. Today, Altınbaş Jewelry continues to shape the industry with over 130 concept stores across Turkey and abroad.
In 1988, the group established Turkey’s first gold jewelry manufacturing plant, which later evolved into a full-fledged gold refinery. By 1993, this facility officially became Onsa Refinery, marking a major milestone in Turkey’s precious metals industry.
That same year, Altınbaş entered the financial sector with the establishment of Altınbaş Bank in Cyprus — a brand that later became Creditwest Bank, one of the region’s most trusted financial institutions. The group further expanded its financial services in 1996 with the founding of Altınbaş Insurance, later rebranded as Creditwest Insurance and Creditwest Finance.
After achieving significant success across multiple industries, the Altınbaş Family united all its brands under one umbrella — Altınbaş Holding — taking a major step toward becoming a global institution.
Entering the energy sector in 1999, the group launched Alpet Petroleum, establishing fuel terminals in Turkey’s most populous cities. Today, Alpet continues its operations in Cyprus under the name Alpet Cyprus, maintaining a strong regional presence.
The early 2000s brought new milestones:
Between 2007 and 2013, Altınbaş Holding also managed Göztepe Sports Club, achieving notable success both on and off the field.
In 2008, under the Mehmet Altınbaş Foundation, the group established Istanbul Kemerburgaz University, which welcomed its first students in 2011. Since 2017, the institution has proudly continued its academic mission under the name Altınbaş University.
Guided by its founding motto — “The key to our success lies in understanding the times and crafting the right strategies” — Altınbaş Holding continues its legacy of over 75 years of innovation, integrity, and leadership.
Today, the group stands as one of Turkey’s and the world’s most distinguished holdings, with thriving investments in energy, finance, jewelry, logistics, and education.
