Banks in Serbia

Banks in Serbia are supervised within the national financial system, with the National Bank of Serbia, usually called NBS, playing a central role. Banks serve private people, entrepreneurs, and companies through branches, cards, online banking, and mobile applications. A normal personal payment account is called a tekući račun. It is used for salary payments, transfers, bills, cash withdrawals, and card purchases. A bank may also offer a devizni račun for holding currencies other than RSD. When opening an account, the bank normally checks identity and records basic customer information. A person may need an identity document, proof of address, or information about residence and income, depending on the service and customer status. Common payment tools include debit cards, bank transfers, standing orders, cash deposits, and electronic banking. Domestic transfers use Serbian banking payment details, while international transfers require additional information about the sender, recipient, currency, and purpose. Banks provide different kinds of loans, including cash loans, housing loans, overdrafts called dozvoljeni minus, and card-related credit. The real cost is shown through interest, fees, insurance, and other conditions, so the effective interest rate, known as EKS, is important for comparison. Businesses often use business accounts, payment services, payroll support, and financing. Entrepreneurs, called preduzetnici, and limited liability companies, commonly known as DOO, must keep business money and personal money properly separated. Deposit protection may apply to eligible bank deposits under the Serbian system, but protection has conditions and limits. It does not mean that every financial product, investment, or loss is automatically protected. A bank relationship also includes duties such as keeping contact details current, protecting passwords and card codes, checking statements, and reporting suspicious transactions quickly. Complaints usually begin with the bank, with further formal options available within the financial system when appropriate.