National Bank clarifies: Serbian decision affects only Alta Bank in Serbia, not the bank in North Macedonia

The National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia has clarified that the decision by the National Bank of Serbia to revoke Alta Bank’s operating license in Belgrade does not automatically lead to the revocation of the license of Alta Bank AD Manastir.

According to the Macedonian institution, the measure taken by the Serbian authorities concerns only the bank’s activities in Serbia. Alta Bank in North Macedonia is a separate legal entity, established and registered in accordance with domestic laws.

“The domestic bank is an independent legal entity, established and registered in the Republic of North Macedonia, whose operations are assessed in accordance with the domestic legal and regulatory framework,” the National Bank said in a statement.

The supervisory authority said it was closely monitoring the situation and any circumstances that could affect the bank’s operations, including risks related to its ownership structure.

“The National Bank, as the competent supervisor, is monitoring the situation and acting in accordance with legal provisions,” the statement continued.

The institution also clarified that acquiring a qualified stake in a bank is carried out through a comprehensive procedure, during which the criteria established by law are reviewed on the basis of the official data available.

The National Bank urged citizens to rely only on official sources and verified information, and not to draw conclusions from unconfirmed claims or speculation.

“The National Bank will continue to closely monitor the situation and act independently, professionally and exclusively in accordance with its legal powers, in the interests of the safety of the banking system and the protection of depositors,” the statement concluded.