Today is World Savings Day, established in Milan October 31, 1924, by a group banks from 25 countries, and in Serbia, it will be marked by record deposits, reaching EUR 7.5 billion.

The savings week, which covers the first week of November, will be remembered by the Serbian banking system for the increase in deposits this year, which went up by about EUR 800 million compared to last year.

Even though an analysis by the National Bank of Serbia says it was more profitable to save in dinars than euros this year (same as last year), the population is still distrustful of the national currency, proven by low dinar savings - under EUR 200 million.

The analysis also shows it was more profitable to save in dinars than euros between 2001 and 2011, during most of the observed periods. It turns out it was better to save in dinars during 77 periods, while foreign currencies were more lucrative during 41. The interest rate of 7 percent was better for dinar savings during 70 periods, while the 7.5-percent rate was better during 68.

The media in Serbia speculate that around EUR 3 billion are still kept "under the mattress" because some people still do not believe the financial institutions after their experience in the 1990s, when they could not collect their deposits. Even the fact the dinar became convertible again on May 15, 2002, for the first time after 1946, has not changed their attitude.

Unlike 2010, when the banks competed by raising the interest rates on euro savings accounts during the week, this year they listened to the appeal by the central bank governor not to raise the interest rates, because that would result in higher interest on loans.