Serbia's central bank revokes ALTA Banka licence, bankruptcy opened

The National Bank of Serbia revoked ALTA Banka's operating licence on Saturday, citing a sharp deterioration in the bank's financial position and a threat to depositors, and bankruptcy proceedings have been opened against the bank.

Why it matters: ALTA is the first Serbian bank failure of the post-election transition, its owner Davor Macura is described in local media as close to Aleksandar Vucic's outgoing party, and the revocation lands six days after that party lost power, so the regulator's stated solvency grounds will be read against the political change whether or not the two are connected.

Data as of ALTA Banka's own statement of October 31, 2026, read in full in this run, confirms bankruptcy proceedings have been initiated against the bank under decisions of the competent regulatory authorities. The licence revocation itself, its solvency grounds and the seven-working-day payout timetable are as reported by TASS on October 31, 2026, in Russian, read in full in this run, quoting the National Bank of Serbia's statement; the central bank's own release had not been obtained directly when this item was written, and neither source gives the bank's deposit or asset totals. The National Bank of Serbia was logged to SOURCES-TO-IMPLEMENT.md in this run as an uncovered primary source.

The National Bank of Serbia revoked the operating licence of ALTA banka a.d. Beograd at its executive board meeting on Saturday. The regulator said the bank’s financial condition had deteriorated sharply over the preceding period, with a risk of further deterioration in its position and liquidity that threatened depositors’ interests. ALTA Banka confirmed in its own statement that bankruptcy proceedings have been initiated against it, and said the bankruptcy authorities are acting to protect depositors and creditors.

The Deposit Insurance Agency is to be appointed bankruptcy administrator by court decision and, under the timetable the central bank gave, will open payouts of insured deposits within seven working days. The bank is owned by businessman Davor Macura, whom local media describe as close to Aleksandar Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party; the revocation comes six days after the Student List won the October 25 election and Vucic conceded defeat.

Serbia's central bank revokes ALTA Banka licence, bankruptcy opened

Sources