Blocked corporate and entrepreneurial accounts in Montenegro carried €1.78 billion in unpaid obligations at the end of September, an increase of €31.43 million from August, according to the Central Bank of Montenegro.
A total of 21,294 debtors had blocked accounts, including 18,058 companies and entrepreneurs. Debt was concentrated among a small number of entities, with the 50 largest debtors owing approximately €1.05 billion, or 58.88% of the total. The 10 largest accounted for around €732.4 million, representing just over 41%. Long-standing liabilities dominated the figures. Entities with accounts blocked for more than one year owed approximately €1.76 billion, equivalent to 98.78% of all outstanding obligations.
The position of active businesses was considerably smaller, with around 1,563 active companies and entrepreneurs owing €384.96 million. Blocked accounts can disrupt payments to suppliers, contractors and employees, while creditors face delays in recovering outstanding amounts.
Montenegro’s banking system remains liquid and well capitalised, and the figures do not independently indicate a banking crisis. The principal challenge concerns unresolved corporate debt, slow recoveries and the effectiveness of restructuring and insolvency procedures.
The concentration of obligations among 50 debtors means that resolving a limited number of major cases could significantly affect the total. For foreign investors, the figures also underline the importance of due diligence on local partners, suppliers and acquisition targets, particularly when assessing unpaid liabilities and enforcement proceedings. Efficient corporate debt resolution remains relevant to Montenegro’s efforts to attract investment in energy, technology, logistics and industry, as it affects creditor recoveries, asset allocation and transparency across the business sector.
