NBS gives exchange offices 30 days to return euros

The Executive Board of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) decided at an extraordinary session on October 27, 2026, that the public postal operator and authorized exchange offices will have 30 days instead of the current 15 to return to banks the foreign cash they bought from them. The measure is in effect until December 10, 2026.

The NBS says the aim is to preserve the stability of the exchange market and keep citizens continuously supplied with foreign cash. The central bank also says banks and exchange offices have enough euros in stock, despite increased demand.

How many euros did exchange offices sell in October?

According to NBS data, authorized exchange offices have sold citizens about 571.6 million euros since the start of October (at the official middle rate of 117.5178 dinars, that is roughly 67.2 billion RSD). They bought about 515.3 million euros from citizens, so net sales came to about 56.3 million euros. Banks sold exchange offices about 40.27 million euros in October, which the NBS describes as a response to increased demand.

For October 26, the central bank published preliminary figures:

• sales to citizens: about 26.2 million euros in roughly 41,060 transactions
• purchases from citizens: about 23.4 million euros in roughly 137,580 transactions
• net sales: 2.8 million euros
• purchases from banks: an additional 4.75 million euros

Those figures imply an average sale of about 638 euros per transaction and an average purchase of about 170 euros. That is the newsroom’s own calculation based on NBS data, not a figure the central bank published itself.

The average buying rate for the euro at exchange offices on October 26 was 116.83 dinars and the average selling rate was 118.51 dinars, a spread of 1.68 dinars. The official NBS middle rate for Wednesday, October 28, is 117.5178 dinars per euro, a negligible change from Tuesday.

What does the NBS say about the exchange rate and fees?

The central bank says its inspections of exchange operations over the past year found no irregularities in how the euro rate is set. Exchange offices, it adds, did not charge a fee for buying or selling undamaged banknotes in circulation. The NBS also responded to media reports about the supply of euros on the domestic market.

The statement issued after the Executive Board session reads:

“The interests of citizens and the preservation of market stability remain the focus of the National Bank of Serbia’s activities. In that regard, the National Bank of Serbia continuously monitors developments on the foreign exchange and exchange office market and, with a responsible approach, will not allow any non-market and artificial disruptions in exchange operations.”

The central bank says the foreign exchange market is stable and that it will keep monitoring developments and, within its powers, take measures to preserve stability and confidence in the domestic currency.