Ten months after the Republic of Moldova became operationally connected to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) on October 6, 2025, citizens and businesses have saved approximately €13.2 million, TRIBUNA reports.

According to the National Bank of Moldova, SEPA has become the main channel for Moldova’s cross-border euro payments. Today, citizens benefit from faster, safer transfers at significantly lower costs, sometimes even with zero fees. Wherever they are in Europe, they can send money to Moldova under the same conditions as within the EU.

The rapid adoption of the new payment infrastructure — with nearly 8 out of 10 transactions now carried out through SEPA — reflects citizens’ confidence and strengthens Moldova’s integration into European financial networks. Moldovan companies now operate according to the same payment standards as EU businesses, while lower transfer costs increase their competitiveness on international markets, allowing them to conduct euro transactions under the same conditions as their European partners.

Joining SEPA has radically changed the way money moves to and from Europe, bringing concrete and immediate benefits to citizens, the diaspora, businesses, and the economy as a whole:

• The average cost of a cross-border euro transfer has fallen from fees ranging between €20 and €150 to €1.09 per transaction;
• Under the traditional SWIFT system, the 960,000 transfers made since Moldova connected to SEPA would have cost the national economy €14.2 million. Through SEPA, the costs amounted to only €1 million, meaning that €13.2 million remained in the pockets of Moldovans;
• The number of transactions processed daily by the banking system has increased by approximately 1,750, reflecting a more open and dynamic economy.

“The significant reduction in transaction costs and the increase in the number of transactions confirm that we have achieved the objective for which we joined SEPA: cheaper payments for Moldovans and genuine connectivity to Europe’s financial architecture. The standardization of payment procedures provides a direct boost to the competitiveness of our companies and strengthens economic ties with European partners. The money saved remains in the economy and supports the business environment, while our financial system becomes more stable, secure, and attractive to investors. Today, the Republic of Moldova has financial infrastructure compatible with European standards — a modern ecosystem that benefits both citizens and companies,” emphasized BNM Governor Anca Dragu.

In addition to the significant savings, SEPA has contributed to increased economic activity in the Republic of Moldova. Lower costs and faster transfers have stimulated trade and financial flows: comparing October 2025–July 2026 with the same period in previous years, when payments were made exclusively through SWIFT, the total value of transactions increased by approximately 57%, from €9.3 billion to €14.6 billion.