Addiko Bank: Of 12,000 approved CHF loans, 700 are active and decreasing

Members of the Swiss Franc Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina today blocked an Addiko Bank branch in the center of Sarajevo, and one member of the Association was injured during a scuffle with security guards. A reaction also came from Addiko Bank, which stated that it was an "illegal gathering in and around the branch".

- We regret the events in and around the Ferhadija branch, which were initiated by the Swiss Franc Association. The illegal gathering of Association members in front of the Addiko Bank branch in Ferhadija escalated with the use of force by some Association members against security guards and bank staff. Several members of the Association blocked the security guards and forcibly entered the bank branch, causing material damage. During the forced entry into the branch, one of the association members fell and requested medical assistance, which was provided.

Police officers were also present at the scene, monitoring this gathering of Swiss Franc Association members and reacting within their legal authority. They emphasize that police are currently conducting investigative actions, and the branch has been closed due to this violent act.
  
- The responsibility for these events lies primarily with the president of the Swiss Franc Association, Kemal Duraković, who manipulates and abuses the members of this Association to achieve his private interests. Addiko Bank d.d., which inherited the issue of loans with a CHF clause from the very beginning of its operations, has been offering solutions for this issue. The bank is in the process of voluntary conversion, which includes a write-off of 30%, or 50% of the total debt, default interest, and ancillary costs (notary, etc.). Over 30 million BAM has been invested in this solution during the past year, and the result is a constant decrease in the number of CHF loan users. Out of approximately 12,000 loans approved in total in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are currently just over 700 active loans in Addiko Bank dd Sarajevo, and this number is constantly decreasing from month to month - the statement reads.

It is further emphasized that the bank's management has met with the president of the Association on several occasions in recent months, with the aim of resolving this issue.

- Unfortunately, those discussions did not yield results, as most members of the Association did not support the proposals of the Association's leadership. The Association's president, Duraković, is hiding the Bank's correspondence sent to the Association and is not informing all members of the Association about our positions. He is clearly doing this to achieve some of his interests that have nothing to do with the interests of the Association members he allegedly represents. We emphasize once again that any illegal behavior will not contribute to any solution. The bank has been and remains open to seeking agreements with all its clients. Unfortunately, it is clear that we made a mistake by negotiating with the Association and Mr. Duraković, who actually does not want any solution, but wants to pursue his own private goals and interests - stated Addiko Bank.