Filipçe seeks answers on pensions for 11,000 retirees as Alta Bank branches and cards stop working

At a press conference today, LSDM leader Venko Flipce called on Governor Trajko Slaveski to explain how 11,000 retirees will receive their pensions, as Alta Bank branches have closed and its cards and ATMs are not working.

Flipce said Prime Minister Mickoski and Governor Slaveski had left citizens uncertain and unable to access their money. He said the situation was threatening the livelihoods of thousands of people who keep their wages, pensions and life savings at Alta Bank.

He recalled that many questions had arisen after the previous day’s press conference. Citizens were initially told they would be able to withdraw about 150 euros a week, but today the branches are not operating and ATM cards are not working.

“How will citizens get their money? How will pensions be withdrawn, how will families secure their income, and how will workers receive their wages? Thousands of people cannot access their funds, either at the closed branches or through cards that do not work. The lives of these citizens have been put at risk,” Filipçe said.

The LSDM leader also said that citizens who had deposited their life savings in Stopanska Banka Bitola over the years were facing uncertainty. Meanwhile, he said, Governor Slaveski was asking them to keep repaying their loans on time.

“Many people kept their life savings in Stopanska Banka Bitola for years, and now, at Alta Banka, they do not know whether they will get their money back. Why does the governor say they must keep paying their loans even when they cannot withdraw their own money? This is an absolute disgrace. What money are they supposed to use to pay the instalments? What if their loan is linked to their deposit and they are waiting for money from the bank to make the payment? Eleven thousand retirees receive their pensions through Alta Bank,” Filipçe said.