Recent developments concerning ALTA banka a.d. Beograd serve as a timely reminder of a liquidity risk that many businesses overlook: relying on a single bank account for their day-to-day operations.

Although statutory deposit insurance in Serbia covers deposits up to EUR 50,000, that amount may represent only a fraction of a growing company’s monthly payroll, supplier payments and other operating expenses. Funds exceeding the insured amount may become tied up in bankruptcy proceedings, potentially leaving the business without immediate access to the liquidity it needs.

For companies, concentrating available cash with a single bank is therefore more than a theoretical financial risk. It can create a significant operational bottleneck at precisely the moment when uninterrupted access to funds matters most.

Effective treasury management is not simply about securing the lowest banking fees or the most convenient payment arrangements. It also requires businesses to consider the resilience of their banking structure, the diversification of available funds and the measures needed to preserve liquidity if access to a particular account becomes restricted.

In a follow-up article, we will examine practical measures that companies can take to assess and reduce their exposure to this type of risk.

For more information, please contact Marko Repic.