National Bank of Serbia

The National Bank of Serbia (Serbian: Народна банка Србије, romanizedNarodna banka Srbije) is the central bank of Serbia.

National Bank of Serbia
Народна банка Србије
Headquarters of the National bank of Serbia
Headquarters of the National bank of Serbia
Headquarters Nemanjina 17, Belgrade
Established 1884
(current form since 2006)
Ownership 100% state ownership
Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković
Central bank of Serbia
Currency Serbian dinar
RSD (ISO 4217)
Reserves €16.8 billion (2021)
Bank rate 5.50%
Interest on reserves 4.50%
Website www.nbs.rs

History

The National Bank of Serbia succeeds several institutions, all based in Belgrade, mirroring the complex history of Serbia throughout the 20th centuries. The first of these was established in 1884 as the Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia. In 2003 Bank succeeded its immediate predecessor, the National Bank of Yugoslavia.

Missions and organization

The responsibilities of the bank include monetary policy, the monopoly on issuance of Serbian banknotes and coins, the protection of price stability, and the promotion of stability of the financial system within Serbia. The bodies of the NBS are the executive board, the Governor and the Council of the Governor.

The incumbent governor of the bank is Jorgovanka Tabaković.

The National Bank of Serbia is independent and autonomous in carrying out its tasks laid down by the law, and is accountable for its work to the National Assembly of Serbia. The primary objective of the National Bank of Serbia is to achieve and maintain price stability. Without prejudice to its primary objective, it also contributes to maintaining and strengthening of the stability of the financial system.

The National Bank of Serbia:

  • determines and implements the monetary and foreign exchange policies
  • manages foreign exchange reserves
  • determines and implements, within its scope of authority, the activities and measures aimed at maintaining and strengthening the stability of the financial system
  • issues banknotes and coins and manages cash circulation
  • regulates, controls and promotes smooth performance of domestic and cross-border payment transactions, in accordance with law
  • issues and revokes operating licenses, carries out prudential supervision of bank operations and performs other activities in accordance with the law governing banks
  • performs other tasks within its scope of authority, in accordance with law

Building

Headqurters building on Slavija Square was designed by architect Grujo Golijanin for the National Bank of Yugoslavia, for which construction started in the early 1990s. It stopped, however, because of Serbia's financial and political challenges of the time. Works restarted in the 2000s and the building was inaugurated in 2006.

Governors

Since its re-establishment, the National Bank of Serbia has had five Governors:

See also