North Macedonia central bank governor says media speculation hit Alta Bank

North Macedonia's central bank governor, Trajko Slaveski, said media speculation that money was being withdrawn from Alta Bank had dealt the bank a blow. Speaking on Telma television's 'Top tema' programme, he answered a journalist's question about a domestic bank's proposed takeover of Stopanska Bank in Bitola and the later approval of the Belgrade-based Alta Bank.

Serbia's central bank revoked the licence of Alta Bank two days earlier. The bank is fully owned by Davor Macura, who was detained last night. Media reports had described Macura as a businessman close to Aleksandar Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party until recently. North Macedonia's central bank has placed Alta Bank in Bitola under temporary administration and set a weekly payment limit of 10,000 denars for citizens.

Asked about Financial Times reports alleging money laundering, Slaveski said newspapers could write anything and should not be taken at face value. He said the key condition was the bank's Serbian licence and that the decision followed the supervisory unit's recommendation.