What we know so far
- On 31 October 2026 the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) withdrew the licence of ALTA banka a.d. Beograd and found the conditions for bankruptcy were met.
- The bank is now run by the Deposit Insurance Agency (Agencija za osiguranje depozita, AOD). The Commercial Court in Belgrade opens the bankruptcy and AOD becomes the administrator.
- Payments through ALTA have stopped and accounts are blocked. Loans still have to be repaid.
We update this page as soon as AOD or the court publishes something new.
Up to €50,000: you get this back without us
Deposits of individuals, sole traders (including flat-tax preduzetnici) and micro, small and medium companies are insured. The €50,000 limit is per depositor per bank: current, savings, term, dinar and foreign-currency accounts are added together, with interest up to the day bankruptcy opens.
- Payout starts no later than 7 working days after the court opens bankruptcy, through another bank named by AOD.
- Dinar deposits are paid in dinars, foreign-currency deposits in euros at the middle rate on the opening day.
- AOD publishes where, when and with which documents on aod.rs within three working days of the court decision.
You don’t need a lawyer for this part.
Above €50,000: this is where money gets lost
Anything above the limit is not paid automatically. It has to be filed in the bankruptcy as a creditor claim, in writing, with evidence, within the deadline the court sets in the notice opening the bankruptcy. Miss it or file it badly, and you risk getting nothing from the bank’s assets.
How much comes back, and when, depends on the bank’s assets and where your claim ranks. It can take a long time and nobody can promise a percentage today. Without a filed claim, though, the chance is zero.
Large companies are not insured at all, so for them the whole balance is a claim.
If your business account was there
A company or sole trader without a working account can’t get paid, pay tax or pay salaries. You need a new account at another bank now, not after the payout. We prepare the bank file and go to the branch with you. See business bank account in Serbia.
If you also have a loan at ALTA
The bank’s bankruptcy doesn’t cancel your loan. If you have both money and debt at ALTA, we check whether one can be set off against the other before you sign anything with AOD.
What to gather now
- Account and deposit agreements
- Statements for every account as of 30–31 October 2026
- Loan, card and overdraft agreements with ALTA
- Passport and residence permit; for a company or sole trader, the APR extract
You don’t need to come to court. A lawyer can file the claim under a power of attorney.
What we do and what it costs
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Document review and written plan. Insured and uninsured part, loans and set-off, deadlines, next step. | €150 |
| Creditor claim in the bankruptcy. Drafted, filed on time, followed until it is recognised. | €450 |
| New business account at another bank. Bank file and branch visit with you. | on request |
| Representation to the end of the bankruptcy, including a dispute if the claim is contested. | after review, in writing |
If you instruct us to file the claim after the review, the €150 is credited. We work under a written engagement and invoice, paid by bank transfer only. You can write to us in English or Russian.
General information as of 1 November 2026, based on NBS and AOD announcements, not advice on your case. Deadlines and payout rules are set by the court and AOD.