Moldova will join SEPA “in a few days,” National Bank deputy governor
The Republic of Moldova will join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) in just a few days. This was announced by Petru Rotaru, the First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (BNM), during the Fintech Moldova Conference 2025. This event, held in Chisinau, focused on digital financial innovations in the Republic of Moldova and highlighted SEPA as a key component of European financial integration.
"SEPA is more than a technical framework, it is a key component of European financial integration. Payments in euros become as simple as domestic transfers, ensuring both speed and security, at low costs. In a few days, integration into SEPA will become operational, opening a new chapter in the economic and financial development of the Republic of Moldova", said the NBM official.
The Republic of Moldova was accepted into SEPA this March. Membership in this system facilitates international payments in euros and considerably reduces the fees charged. According to the authorities, if until now the fees reached tens or even hundreds of euros, with the accession to SEPA, they will be only a few euros.
According to estimates, through this accession the Republic of Moldova will save about 12 million euros annually, and in the medium term – up to 20 million euros, money that remains in the national economy and supports business development.
Commercial banks accepted to join the SEPA Participant Register have implemented a series of technical adjustments necessary to be able to operate, starting with October 6, transfers in the Single Euro Payments Area.
Over 12 billion lei transferred through MIA Instant Payments
At the same event, which brought together leaders of the financial and banking sector, representatives of the IT industry, regulatory authorities, investors and international experts, Petru Rotaru announced that the MIA Instant Payments system, launched by the National Bank of Moldova a year and a half ago, is actively used by citizens and entrepreneurs.
Thus, for 18 months, the system has achieved remarkable results, with over 750,000 users and transactions exceeding 12 billion lei.
“These figures clearly show that Moldovan citizens value speed and accessibility. And we are not just talking about individuals: entrepreneurs and companies are actively using this system created by the NBM. Today, over 3,300 merchants are connected to MIA, offering their customers fast, modern and secure payment experiences”, the First Deputy Governor of the NBM pointed out.
MIA Instant Payments is a payment system developed by the National Bank of Moldova through which you can receive or request money transfers using only your mobile phone number, in just a few seconds. Commissions are not applied for amounts up to 10,000 lei per month.
