HNB

Customers wait in long queues in a Sberbank branch in Sarajevo. Photo: BIRN

In Bosnia, many wanted to withdraw their money, fearing the loss of their savings. Bank officials are giving dates to customers if they want to withdraw large sums due to high demand.

Croatian Economy Minister Martina Dalic said on Wednesday that both the government and the Croatian National Bank, HNB, support the idea of Croatia entering the eurozone.

"The government, along with HNB, estimates that it is a good time to initiate eurozone accession, which is a medium-term goal; this can't be done in the short term, overnight [however]," Dalic said.

Croatia's new government must tackle growing public debt and maintain the independence of the central bank, Croatia's creditors and potential investors - taking part in the South-Eastern Europe investment conference in Kitzbuhel in Austria last Thursday and Friday - have agreed.

A Croatian NGO set up to lobby for the rights of people with loans in Swiss francs on Monday announced street protests in April while calling for the resignation of the national bank chief.

The Association Franak said that the governor of Croatian national bank, HNB, Boris Vujcic, should step down, Ivan Kontrec, from the Association, told a press conference.