Ondarlako Ithurria Orkastia Otsachar Otsahartéa Otsarrapeguy Otsartéa Oyhançaro Pago Zelhay (pass, 888m) Peilloénéa Peilloeneko Borda Petanénéa Petechaénéa Premonio Tchipitcho Etchola Teylary or Nahala (pass, 932m) Tipitto Todoria Turitchia Uhaillen Borda Uhaldéa Urbaztarréa Urlabéhéréa Urlagaraya Urritzolahandiko Etchola Uzkalépoa Zaku Zakuko Borda Zubiarin Zubiarinzahar Zumazoko Climate Toponymy The commune name in Basque is Banka. For John-Baptiste Orpustan, the origin of the name Banca can have two interpretations: one lent from the Spanish banco designating the bench on which money was exchanged (which gave the French word banque which gave the English bank) or two from bancs de pierre (stone benches). The following table details the origins of the commune name and other names in the commune. Sources: Orpustan: Jean-Baptiste Orpustan, New Basque Toponymy Cassini: Cassini Map from 1750 Ldh/EHESS/Cassini: Raymond: Topographic Dictionary of the Department of Basses-Pyrenees, 1863, on the page numbers indicated in the table. History Banca owes its origin to the revival in the 18th century of the copper mines which had operated in ancient times. Banca was known as Le Fonderie (The Foundry) until the 19th century" and, under the Ancien Régime, it was a hamlet or district under the parish of Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry. It was not made a commune until 1793 under the same name, then in 1874 it was renamed "Banca". The remains of a large forge, a steel foundry started in 1828 on the site of the former copper smelter, stands at the entrance of the village on the banks of the Nive des Aldudes. The most visible element is a blast furnace in good condition. The first armed action by Iparretarrak took place in Banca on 11 December 1973. Administration List of Successive Mayors Inter-communality The commune is part of four inter-communal structures: the Communauté d'agglomération du Pays Basque; the inter-communal association for the development and management of the slaughterhouse in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port; the association to support Basque culture. the joint association for the drainage basin of the Nive; Demography In 2017 the commune had 346 inhabitants. Economy The copper/silver mines and the associated smelter reached their peak in the middle of the 18th century and the forge, with its blast furnace, was in operation from 1828 to 1861. Economic activity is now mainly agricultural. The town is part of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) zone of Ossau-iraty. Culture and heritage Civil heritage The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical