Agrobanka in Banja Luka in early 2011

Agrobanka in Banja Luka, which is being formed by Belgrade-based Agrobanka and Investment-Development Bank of the Republic of Srpska (IRB RS), should be opened in the first quarter of the next year.

Daily paper Glas Srpske was told that by Head of the Cabinet of the Chairman of the Executive Board of Belgrade-based Agrobanka Aleksandar Maric. He pointed out that, in addition to licenses and consents for the opening of that bank in Banja Luka, it was also necessary to provide an adequate office space, create technical conditions for work and employ required staff.

- In accordance with the decision of the Government of the Republic of Srpska, IRB RS will be the co-founder of Agrobanka in Banja Luka - said Maric and added that Agrobanka Banja Luka would be carrying out all saving-deposit, credit, guarantee, payment and e-banking operations.

Maric emphasized that the accent would be placed on networking and cooperation of companies from Serbia and the Republic of Srpska.

As he added, Agrobanka will be at the disposal of agricultural farms, households, as well as citizens.

People at IRB RS said that the headquarters of Agrobanka would be in Banja Luka and that the opening of offices in other municipalities in the Republic of Srpska was also in the pipeline.

"The procedure of formation of Agricultural Bank Agrobanka in Banjaluka is expected to be finished in early 2011", said the people at IRB.

As President of the Association of Agricultural Manufacturers and Cattle Breeders of the Republic of Srpska Vladimir Usorac explained, the main problem that the farmers in Srpska has been experiencing so far is the access to financial means and institutions.

- With the formation of Agrobanka, this problem will be solved and we will finally have the chance to get the funds for introduction of new technologies, which will enable us to raise the competitiveness of the domestic production in Europe and all around the world - said Usorac.

The Assembly of Agrobanka in Serbia made the Decision on formation of this bank in Banja Luka at its session in October.

Projects
Aleksandar Maric says that Agrobanka has successfully implemented numerous big projects in the agricultural and food industry of Serbia during its decades-long existence.