RS Banking Agency Hides Information on Bobar Bank Case

Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina is conducting research activities to determine what the Banking Agency of Republika Srpska has undertaken to prevent the appointment of a temporary administration and the consequent revocation of Bobar banka a.d. Bijeljina's operating license, reports the Patria News Agency.  

TI BiH has submitted a request for access to information to the RS Banking Agency, demanding information on all data, facts, and findings that the Agency uses to prove it previously took action in the Bobar banka case.

Although we were informed that such information exists, meaning that actions were previously taken in this case, the Agency refused to provide the information, stating that it constitutes official secrecy.

TI BiH also requested the RS Banking Agency to provide a report on the financial condition and prospects of Bobar banka a.d. Bijeljina, as well as a final report on the progress and conclusion of the temporary administration proceedings, with an explanation of the measures implemented during the temporary administration.

The aforementioned reports had to be prepared in accordance with the Law on the Banking Agency, and a liquidation procedure could only be proposed based on a report on the financial condition and prospects of the bank. To this day, the disputed reports have not been submitted or presented to the public, even though the public has the right to possess them, as only on their basis can the work of the temporary administrator, who is now also the liquidator, be assessed.    

Given the damage caused to the financial system and economy of Republika Srpska, as well as the justified suspicions of abuse and widespread mistrust among citizens and financial service users, the RS Banking Agency is obliged to disclose to the public all measures previously taken against Bobar banka a.d. Bijeljina. The Law on Freedom of Access to Information of Republika Srpska places justified public interest above protected values, such as official secrecy, and TI BiH believes that precisely in the case of Bobar banka a.d. Bijeljina, the public has the right to know what was undertaken by providing all official documents.  

Transparency International BiH will continue to insist on the transparency of the work of the RS Banking Agency and its management, as well as on establishing accountability in the Bobar banka case using all available legal means, it was announced from TI BiH.