Banks operating in Montenegro increased revenue from account-maintenance charges by approximately 25%, or 1.7 million euros, in the first nine months of 2026, while income from payment-transaction fees declined by approximately 4.2%. Montenegro’s central bank disclosed the figures at a parliamentary hearing on 6 November 2026.
The disclosure followed complaints that several banks had raised charges for maintaining payment accounts. Deputy Governor Zorica Kalezić presented the figures in response to questions about account-management and electronic-banking fees. Recurring account-maintenance charges can be a material expense for households and smaller businesses, particularly those that keep several accounts for operating and administrative purposes.
Kalezić identified rising expenses linked to international card schemes, including Visa and Mastercard, as one pressure on the economics of banks’ payment services. Costs associated with payment cards and cash machines also increased, while income from payment-transaction fees fell by approximately 4.2%. The figures show a change in revenue, but not how much of the account-fee increase came from higher tariffs rather than changes in the number of accounts or customers.
Montenegro’s integration into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) has reduced the cost of many international euro transfers. An earlier central bank estimate projected substantial savings for consumers and companies from lower-cost SEPA transactions. The account-fee increase should be considered alongside changes in other payment services, and banks may revise charges for other services as their revenue mix changes.
The disclosed figures do not establish that any individual bank breached applicable rules. Transparent fee schedules and easier comparisons of banking products remain relevant as Montenegro integrates its financial infrastructure with the European market. The central commercial question is whether competition between banks is sufficient to ensure that lower payment-processing costs benefit customers.
