Russians in Serbia organize mutual aid after Alta Bank collapses, freezing their savings and salaries
Many Alta customers lost access to their money after the National Bank of Serbia revoked the bank’s license. Alta was one of the few local banks that opened accounts for Russians who had emigrated. Customers’ salaries, savings, and money for monthly expenses are frozen. Serbian authorities have promised to repay up to 50,000 euros in lost deposits once bankruptcy proceedings formally begin, which…
Serbian authorities have revoked Alta Bank's license, freezing the savings and salaries of Russian customers. Many Russians living in Serbia lost access to their money after the bank's collapse. The National Bank of Serbia is expected to repay up to 50,000 euros in lost deposits once bankruptcy proceedings begin on November 2. Serbian prosecutors are investigating the bank's collapse and the suspicious transfers made through it.
Businessman Davor Macura, the owner of Alta Bank, has close ties to the Serbian Progressive Party. In response to the bank's closure, Russian-speaking communities in Serbia have launched mutual aid efforts. The Left Club of Serbia organized an aid drive for affected customers at the DC Loža club in Belgrade. Telegram channels are circulating lists of businesses run by Russian speakers in Serbia, and business owners are trying to open new accounts to pay their taxes.
Some Serbs are compiling a list of businesses to support, but it is not clear if this list has been vetted. The revocation of Alta's license and the freezing of Russians' accounts have sparked discussion among Serbian users of X. While some express sympathy, others mock Russians and accuse them of benefiting from a "mafia bank" linked to the country's former government.
Russians living in Serbia are explaining their experiences on social media, highlighting the difficulties they faced in emigrating and opening bank accounts.
Written by urgent.news from Meduza (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
