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‘I have two days until the food in my fridge runs out’: Thousands of Russian emigrants left scrambling after Serbia shuts down Alta Bank, freezing their savings - Meduza
Meduza • • world
Key Points:
- Serbia’s Central Bank revoked the license of Alta, a local bank popular among Russians, freezing clients’ accounts and promising to return deposits up to 50,000 euros, while the fate of larger amounts remains uncertain.
- Many Russians living in Serbia and neighboring countries relied on Alta for personal savings, business accounts, and receiving salaries, facing immediate disruptions and uncertainty about accessing their funds.
- The bank’s closure has sparked panic among affected clients, including entrepreneurs and expatriates, who are now seeking legal advice and organizing collective actions to recover their money.
- Activists and human rights advocates are calling for clear procedures, timely reimbursement, and measures to allow Russians to open accounts at other Serbian banks, highlighting the discriminatory challenges Russians face in the local banking system.
- The situation has also intensified tensions around Russian émigrés in Serbia, with concerns about growing societal resentment and the broader political context influencing the bank’s abrupt shutdown.
