Poštanska štedionica
A Serbian state-majority postal savings bank providing retail and other banking services through a broad domestic distribution network.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Poštanska štedionica, formally Banka Poštanska štedionica a.d. Beograd, is a Serbian banking institution headquartered in Belgrade. Its origins date to 26 June 1921, when a postal savings service was established in Palilula, Belgrade, under legislation intended to encourage household saving. During the 1920s, the institution expanded its presence through post offices across the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and became a principal savings institution of the period. Its early model combined postal distribution with basic financial services and benefited from a policy of tax-free financial transactions designed to make saving more attractive to the public. The institution later went through a long period of technological and organizational development. In 1969, its offices were equipped with IBM computers, marking an early stage of computerized banking operations in the former Yugoslavia. It also became the first financial institution in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to introduce credit cards, establishing a historical association with payment innovation as well as postal savings. In 2002, Poštanska štedionica became a fully operational bank. The institution adopted the name Banka Poštanska štedionica a.d. in 2006 and was admitted to the free market segment of the Belgrade Stock Exchange on 7 February of that year. Its business scope includes savings and deposit products, loans, payment and account services, and other banking activities. The bank's postal heritage gives it a distribution model closely connected with Serbia's postal network, helping it reach retail customers beyond the main commercial banking centers. Poštanska štedionica also became involved in the restructuring of Serbia's state-owned and distressed banking sector. In 2013, the Serbian Ministry of Finance proposed that it assume deposits and selected assets associated with Privredna banka Beograd after that bank lost its banking license. In January 2014, following the loss of Univerzal banka's license, Poštanska štedionica likewise took over relationships with that bank's clients. These actions expanded its customer base and reinforced its role as a public-sector banking institution. The bank broadened its regional footprint in 2021. In April it acquired the smaller Serbian institution mts banka. In October of the same year, it acquired the former Bosnia and Herzegovina subsidiary of Komercijalna banka. That business subsequently operated in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the name Banka Poštanska štedionica Banja Luka from 2022. As of April 2025, the bank was described as the only bank operating in Serbia that was majority or wholly owned by the Government of Serbia. Its present identity therefore combines a century-old postal savings heritage, mass-market banking distribution, state ownership, and selected regional expansion.
History
Poštanska štedionica was established on 26 June 1921 in Palilula, Belgrade, when legislation creating a postal savings service came into force. The institution was designed to make saving more accessible by using the postal network and by conducting financial transactions without taxes, an incentive intended to encourage the accumulation of household capital. By 1926, it had become the principal savings institution in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and maintained branches through post offices throughout the country. Its historical development reflects the modernization of banking in the former Yugoslav space. In 1969, its offices received IBM computers, introducing an important stage of technological modernization. The institution also became the first financial institution in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to introduce credit cards. This gave it a role not only in deposit-taking but also in the development of modern payment services. In 2002, Poštanska štedionica became a fully operational bank. Four years later, it changed its formal name to Banka Poštanska štedionica a.d. and entered the free market segment of the Belgrade Stock Exchange on 7 February 2006. The bank continued to provide savings, lending, payments, card services, and other banking products, with its postal distribution heritage remaining central to its public-facing identity. During the Serbian banking-sector restructuring period, the bank took on customers and selected banking assets from institutions whose licenses had been revoked. In 2013, the Ministry of Finance proposed transferring the deposits and parts of the assets of Privredna banka Beograd to Poštanska štedionica. After Univerzal banka lost its license in January 2014, Poštanska štedionica took over that institution's clients as well. The bank entered a new phase of expansion in 2021. It acquired mts banka in April and acquired the former Bosnia and Herzegovina subsidiary of Komercijalna banka in October. From 2022, the latter operation used the name Banka Poštanska štedionica Banja Luka. By April 2025, Poštanska štedionica was described as Serbia's only bank with majority or wholly government ownership. Its history consequently spans postal savings, early banking computerization, payment-card innovation, state-led banking consolidation, and limited regional expansion.
- 2022
Banja Luka operation adopts Poštanska štedionica branding
[1]The acquired Bosnia and Herzegovina operation began operating as Banka Poštanska štedionica Banja Luka.
- 2021
Acquisition of mts banka
[1]Poštanska štedionica acquired the smaller Serbian bank mts banka in April.
- 2021
Regional acquisition in Bosnia and Herzegovina
[1]In October, the bank acquired the former Bosnia and Herzegovina subsidiary of Komercijalna banka.
- 2014
Univerzal banka customer transfer
[1]Poštanska štedionica took over the clients of Univerzal banka after its banking license was revoked.
- 2013
Transfer of Privredna banka Beograd customers and assets
[1]The bank was selected for a proposed transfer of deposits and parts of the assets of Privredna banka Beograd after that institution lost its banking license.
- 2006
Formal name change and stock-exchange admission
[1]The institution adopted the name Banka Poštanska štedionica a.d. and was admitted to the free market segment of the Belgrade Stock Exchange on 7 February.
- 2002
Transition to a fully operational bank
[1]Poštanska štedionica became a fully operational bank.
- 1969
IBM computers introduced
[1]Its offices were equipped with IBM computers as part of an early phase of banking technology adoption.
- 1969
Credit-card introduction
[1]Poštanska štedionica became the first financial institution in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to introduce credit cards.
- 1926
Expansion across the postal network
[1]The institution had become the main savings institution in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and operated through post offices across the country.
Products and positioning
A state-majority Serbian retail and general-purpose bank built around postal-network reach, household savings, public-sector continuity, and access to banking services across the country.
Retail banking · 1921
Savings and deposit accounts
Savings and deposit services are central to the institution's historical identity. The bank originated as a postal savings service intended to make saving accessible through post offices and to encourage household accumulation. Its modern banking activities continue to include deposit-taking and savings products for retail customers.
Lending
Retail loans
Poštanska štedionica provides lending services as part of its general banking activity. The available reference material identifies loans as a core product category, but does not specify individual loan types, eligibility terms, pricing, or current product names.
Payments · 1969
Payment and card services
The institution offers payment services and has a notable historical connection with card innovation. It introduced credit cards in the former Yugoslavia before the modern bank was formed, and its current business scope includes payment and card-related banking services.
Distribution channel · 1921
Postal-network banking
The bank's distinctive distribution model is linked to Serbia's postal infrastructure. Its predecessor operated through post offices across the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and the postal connection remains an important part of the brand's accessibility and public identity.
Brand decisions
2021
Acquisition of mts bankaM&ABackground
Poštanska štedionica pursued domestic expansion through the acquisition of a smaller Serbian bank.
Action taken
It acquired mts banka in April 2021.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Poštanska štedionica's domestic banking platform.
2021
Acquisition of a former Komercijalna banka subsidiaryM&ABackground
The bank expanded beyond Serbia by acquiring the former Bosnia and Herzegovina subsidiary of Komercijalna banka.
Action taken
Poštanska štedionica completed the acquisition in October 2021.
Aftermath
The acquired operation later operated as Banka Poštanska štedionica Banja Luka from 2022.
2014
Takeover of Univerzal banka clientsOtherBackground
Univerzal banka lost its banking license in January 2014.
Action taken
Poštanska štedionica took over Univerzal banka's clients.
Aftermath
The bank expanded its customer relationships during Serbia's banking-sector restructuring.
2013
Assumption of selected Privredna banka Beograd deposits and assetsOtherBackground
Privredna banka Beograd lost its banking license, prompting a proposal by the Serbian Ministry of Finance to transfer its insured and uninsured deposits and parts of its assets.
Action taken
Poštanska štedionica was designated to take over the specified deposits and selected assets.
Aftermath
The measure strengthened the bank's role in the resolution of failed or revoked-license banks in Serbia.
Sources1 sources
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