Albania's central bank said on October 19 that deposits and savings remained safe after attacks on bank branches and ATMs caused material damage and temporary disruptions to services, as anti-government protests in the country escalated.

The Bank of Albania said payment services had continued to operate normally despite damage to some banking infrastructure, and urged citizens to protect financial institutions while exercising their right to peaceful protest.

"The safety of citizens, clients and employees of financial institutions remains a priority," the central bank said in a statement published on October 19.

It sought to reassure depositors that damage to bank premises did not threaten their money or undermine the financial stability of lenders.

"Damage to part of the physical infrastructure in some bank branches does not affect the safety of customer deposits nor the financial stability of banks," it said.

The statement came after several days of anti-government demonstrations in Albania, where protests have turned violent, with police using tear gas and water cannon and demonstrators targeting government buildings. The unrest has increased pressure on Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has rejected calls to resign.

The central bank said it was in regular contact with commercial banks and other institutions to monitor developments and assess measures to protect staff, customers and banking infrastructure.

Some branches had temporarily restricted services for safety reasons, it said, advising customers and businesses to consult banks' official announcements and make greater use of alternative banking channels.

The bank stressed the importance of maintaining uninterrupted financial services for households and companies, including salary and pension payments, business transactions and investment.

It also called on protesters to respect the security of the central bank and commercial lenders, warning that damage to financial institutions could affect services relied upon by the wider public.

"The normal functioning of banks is directly linked to the well-being of citizens, the continuity of economic activity and confidence in the future," the statement said.

The Bank of Albania said it would continue working with relevant institutions to preserve financial stability and public confidence in the banking system.