Banky village is an old mining settlement that arose near the shafts where was mined gold and silver ores. The village is still an administrative part of Banská Štiavnica town, i. e. its last "extended street", like Banská Hodruša, Štiavnické Bane or Vyhne were in past. Mines boomed here mainly in the 16th and 17th century. The most important mining plant was Hoffer adit, known already in the 16th century. In 1768, Joseph Carl Hell built two water-column mining machines here. In the 18th century, to Hoffer plant also belonged Therese, Ann, Carl and Leopold shafts. In 1870, Hoffer adit was already abandoned and inaccessible. Above the village is a smaller lake called Bančianske or Hofferštôlnianske. Today lake serves to residents and cottagers of Banky village for recreational purposes.
