Long queues outside banks; National Bank of Serbia issues urgent statement: "Dinar exchange rate is stable"

The central bank also stated that it is monitoring the operations of Banka Poštanska štedionica, which is meeting all its obligations to clients as usual. Pension payments and other benefits from the Serbian state budget are also being disbursed on schedule.

"The National Bank of Serbia is making every effort to ensure that the domestic financial system operates in a stable and efficient manner, particularly in the areas of maintaining monetary and financial stability, ensuring the reliable and efficient functioning of payment systems, and protecting users of financial services," the statement said.

According to the announcement, the NBS has the full cooperation of financial institutions, particularly banks, which contribute to the security and stability of the financial system through their professional and responsible conduct.

The central bank highlighted some of the measures it is taking to maintain, as stated, public confidence in the financial system of the Republic of Serbia:

The National Bank of Serbia directly monitors the operations of Banka Poštanska štedionica on a daily basis and, through the measures it has taken, ensures the security of its operations with citizens and businesses. Banka Poštanska štedionica is meeting all its obligations to clients as usual, while pension payments and other benefits from the Serbian state budget are being made and will continue to be made on schedule.

"We are ensuring that all liquidity support measures remain available to banks in order to support the normal functioning of the financial system. In response to increased demand for foreign currency, primarily from citizens, we are using our substantial foreign exchange reserves, which are high by all relevant measures, to maintain exchange rate stability. We will continue to do so," the NBS stated.

The NBS stated that, through direct contact with banks and authorised currency exchange offices, it is supporting the uninterrupted flow of foreign cash (foreign currency banknotes and coins), thereby ensuring the supply of citizens amid increased demand.

"Payment systems are operating smoothly, and banks and other payment service providers are able to provide uninterrupted payment services to citizens and businesses. Over the past ten days, the average daily number of transactions processed through the NBS's RTGS, Clearing and IPS payment systems amounted to 1.1 million payments, in line with the daily average recorded during the first nine months of this year," the central bank said.

"It is extremely important that everyone works towards the same goal – preserving the stability of our country and acting in the interests of its citizens," the NBS stated in its announcement.