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Bank of Albania after damage to branches and ATMs: deposits are safe, payments are working
The central bank says attacks on several bank branches during the protests put neither citizens' savings nor financial stability at risk.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 19, 2026, 13:04 · Updated 12:20 · 1 min read
In brief
- Several bank branches and ATMs were damaged during the protests in Tirana.
- The Bank of Albania says the payment system has worked without interruption.
- Customers are advised to follow their banks' announcements and use alternative channels.
The Bank of Albania responded on Monday to the damage suffered by several bank branches and ATMs during the protests of recent days, stressing that the situation does not threaten citizens' savings.
In its statement, the central bank writes that it is following developments with concern and acknowledges that the incidents have caused material damage as well as temporary restrictions on services at some branches. According to the institution, these restrictions were put in place to protect the physical safety of employees and customers.
The Bank of Albania underlines that the payment system has continued to operate normally and without interruption. The damage to part of the physical infrastructure, it says, endangers neither deposits nor the financial stability of the banks, so citizens can rest assured that “their savings are protected.”
Call to protect banks
The institution called on citizens to respect and protect bank premises and their staff, noting that banks serve families who keep savings, people who receive wages and pensions, and businesses that pay their employees.
Businesses and customers were asked to follow official announcements from their banks and, where possible, to use alternative service channels. The central bank added that it is in constant communication with commercial banks and the relevant institutions to monitor the situation and security measures.
