Alta banka Bitola holds 8.91 billion denars in deposits, and NBRM says the Serbian licence revocation does not apply automatically

The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) revoked the operating licence of Alta banka a.d. Beograd, and the decision was announced on October 31. The Bitola-based Alta banka AD, which is owned by the Belgrade bank, said on Facebook that it is liquid and operating normally. In the evening NBRM stated that the Serbian decision does not automatically mean the withdrawal of the licence in Macedonia. The story was carried by N1, Beta, B92, Bloomberg Adria, Pari and other outlets. Below we answer depositors’ questions and separate what is confirmed from what is alleged.

What did the NBS say? According to the NBS, supervisory measures aimed at strengthening the bank’s liquidity did not produce the required results, and its financial condition deteriorated significantly in the previous period, which endangers the interests of depositors. Bankruptcy proceedings have been started, and the Deposit Insurance Agency will manage the bank as bankruptcy trustee. Insured deposits of up to €50,000 are to be paid out within seven working days, and Alta banka says payouts begin on Monday. Payment cards, domestic and foreign payments and branch operations are suspended.

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How large is the Belgrade bank? At the end of 2025 it had 621 employees and 66,481 clients, of whom 56,390 were individuals and 10,091 legal entities, according to figures carried by the Serbian paper Novosti.

What are the allegations in Serbia? The Serbian organised crime prosecutor (JTOK) said it acted after media reports of outflows from the bank’s accounts abroad and asked the NBS for data from September 27 onward. The NBS filed a criminal complaint against the bank and several responsible persons. Four NBS vice-governors, for their part, said the bank’s real condition differed drastically from the reports submitted to the NBS, and asked for it to be determined who knew about the risks and when. These are allegations and requests for an investigation, not established findings. The reports we checked contain no proof that any particular transfers were unlawful.

What is the Bitola Alta banka? It is the former Stopanska banka from Bitola. On October 14, 2025 Bloomberg Adria reported that Alta banka had become its owner after the offer was accepted by 262 shareholders. According to figures as of September 30, 2026 carried by the same outlet, assets are 11.27 billion denars (about €183 million at a rate of 61.5 denars per euro, our calculation), and capital and reserves 1.98 billion. Client deposits are 8.91 billion denars, or 5.4 percent more than a year earlier, and net loans 4.90 billion, up 27.6 percent.

How liquid is it? Liquid assets are about 43.91 percent of the total, which by our calculation is about 4.95 billion denars. Loans are about 55 percent of deposits (our calculation). For the period to September 2026 the bank has a net loss of 48.64 million denars, against a profit of 49.15 million in the same period last year. A high share of liquid assets is consistent with the bank’s claim that it is liquid, but it does not answer the question of how dependent it is on its owner.

What did NBRM say? According to the statement, the NBS decision concerns the Belgrade bank’s operations in Serbia and does not mean an automatic withdrawal of the Bitola bank’s licence, since it is an independent legal entity registered in Macedonia and is assessed under domestic law. NBRM says it is monitoring all circumstances that may affect the bank’s operations, including the risks arising from the fact that its owner is Alta banka Belgrade, and urged citizens to rely on official, verified information. Economic expert Pavle Gacov wrote on Facebook that the bank is Macedonian and under domestic supervision, and that political statements should not create fear among savers.

How much are deposits insured in Macedonia? Up to €30,000 in denar equivalent per depositor per bank. All of one person’s deposits at the same bank are added together with interest, and the compensation is paid by the Deposit Insurance Fund. The amount above the limit can be claimed in the bankruptcy procedure. The reports we checked show no bankruptcy or payouts for the Bitola bank, since it holds a licence. For comparison, when Eurostandard banka failed in 2020, the Fund said payouts would begin within 20 days.

What is not confirmed. Political statements about the bank’s links to the authorities and about alleged transfers between the Belgrade and Bitola banks are not backed by a public document. It has also not been published how dependent the Bitola bank is on its owner through capital, funding or guarantees. NBRM did not say which supervisory measures it is taking, saying that supervisory information is confidential.

What to follow. Whether NBRM publishes additional data or measures for the Bitola bank, how the payout of insured deposits in Serbia proceeds, whether the Bitola bank publishes new data on capital and liquidity, and whether there are larger deposit withdrawals, for which no data has been reported so far.

MKNews Hub · Macedonia · November 1, 2026