Ambulances called outside Alta Bank branch in Bitola as citizens wait for cash

An ambulance crew attended several times this morning outside the Alta Bank branch in Bitola after people waiting in line became unwell, witnesses said. Cash withdrawals at teller windows began today following the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia's decision to place the bank under temporary administration.

Bank access is being limited to customers who received an SMS appointment and do not have a payment card; those customers may withdraw up to 20,000 denars within a two‑week period. Still, a crowd gathered outside the branch that included people who had not received an invitation, among them elderly citizens without mobile phones and customers seeking documents to open accounts at other banks.

“People are fainting over our money; here people are falling ill,” said citizens gathered outside the branch.

One man who managed to withdraw funds said: “I withdrew 20,000 denars. I received a message yesterday.” Others at the scene protested the SMS‑only system: “A message should be sent! Old people, over 90 years old, do they know how to read a message? Some don't even have a phone. I don't need a message, I need a statement so I can go to another bank and not be harassed like this,” several Bitolans responded.

Local council tensions over municipal deposits

The situation has spilled into municipal politics. The opposition has demanded an extraordinary session of the Municipal Council for mayor Toni Konjanovski to report which public enterprises hold accounts at Alta Bank, how much money is held there and what steps the Municipality will take. So far, opposition representatives say they have received no reply.

“We have an attitude of ignorance from both the mayor and the president of the Council, because they did not convene a session. This shows they do not care about the citizens and what will happen with the public enterprises, because their accounts are blocked,” said Mile Trajkovski, a councillor from Poinaku.

Mayor Toni Konjanovski dismissed the demand as populist and published the balances of the five public enterprises that have accounts at Alta Bank, saying the total is approximately €144,000. He wrote: “The Municipality of Bitola as the founder of the public enterprises follows the directions and information from the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia. That some enterprises have an account at Alta Bank does not mean their functionality is endangered. I believe that very soon the whole case will have a resolution.” He also said the matter will be discussed at a meeting of the local economic‑social council to consider measures to protect citizens' interests.

Photo: press material from the event