English
The Central Bank (NBRM) placed Alta Banka Bitola under temporary administration and has assumed control of the bank’s management. The decision was announced today by Governor Trajko Slaveski during a press conference. With the introduction of temporary administration, the management of the bank’s assets and operations now falls under the authority of administrators appointed by the National Bank. This is a temporary measure intended, according to Slaveski, to protect the bank’s assets and the interests of its depositors.
One of the most significant changes for clients involves restrictions on payments. For individuals, a weekly limit of 10,000 denars has been set for outflows from accounts via payment cards issued by the bank. This means that customers may use their cards for payments up to this amount over the course of a week. At the same time, internal transfers between client accounts within “Alta Banka”—for both individuals and legal entities—remain unrestricted. The central branch of the bank in Serbia collapsed days after the general elections, as the incoming authorities threatened its closure.
Slaveski reported that approximately two million euros had been withdrawn from the bank as of yesterday. He emphasized that the imposition of administration is not the result of a compromised financial situation at the Bitola-based bank. According to his explanation, the bank is liquid, highly capitalized, possesses a credit portfolio of solid quality, and meets all supervisory standards. The decision follows developments involving “Alta Banka” AD Belgrade, whose operating license was revoked by the National Bank of Serbia. The Serbian bank holds a qualifying stake in “Alta Banka” AD Bitola, prompting the Macedonian regulator to take measures to protect the domestic bank, but the Macedonian bank is a separate entity.
The Governor appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that could cause further concern among citizens. Furthermore, the Governor reminded clients with loans at the bank that they must continue to meet their obligations regularly, noting that the imposition of administration does not exempt them from their contractual commitments. It was announced at the press conference that the National Bank will continue to monitor the situation and act within the scope of its legal authority. At present, no specific duration has been announced for the temporary administration, nor has it been specified how long the restrictions on card payments will remain in effect.