Parliament reviews administration of Alta Bank AD Bitola after majority owner lost licence
MPs were told the move followed the revocation of the licence of the bank’s 95.3% owner; the National Bank says the Bitola unit remains well capitalised.
A parliamentary oversight hearing in Skopje examined the reasons for placing Alta Bank AD Bitola under administration after its majority owner lost its banking licence.
Key figures and institutional steps
Lawmakers on the Commission for Finance and Budget heard that the decision to introduce administration at Alta Bank AD Bitola did not stem from weaknesses in the local lender’s operations but from the revocation of the licence held by its dominant shareholder, Alta Bank Belgrade, which owned 95.3% of the shares.
Governor Trajko Slaveski told MPs that the National Bank completed all statutory checks before granting consent for the acquisition of a qualifying holding. He said examinations covered the ownership structure, the ultimate owner, the origin of funds and the investor’s financial condition, and that information had been exchanged with relevant domestic and foreign authorities.
Slaveski also summarised the bank’s balance-sheet position: "The situation at 'Alta Bank' AD Bitola and its balance sheet are healthy and solid. Capitalization is around 26%, liquid assets account for about 40% of total assets, and non-performing loans are below 3%. The administration aims to preserve this position and protect the bank's balance sheet until a new owner is found," he said.
Parliamentarians discussed the role of the National Bank and broader institutional responsibility, focusing on how supervision and contingency measures were applied in this cross-border ownership case. The oversight session aimed to clarify the sequence of decisions and the steps being taken to secure depositors and the bank’s operations while a buyer is sought.
Photo: press material from the event
