One year since Moldova connected to SEPA

The Republic of Moldova is marking one year since its operational connection to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). During the first 12 months, transfers through this system enabled citizens and companies to save approximately €16.4 million.

According to the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), the operational connection to SEPA took place on October 6, 2025. During this period, the system became the main channel for cross-border euro payments, with nearly eight out of ten transactions currently being carried out through SEPA.

Between October 2025 and September 2026, approximately 1.2 million transactions were conducted through SEPA. If they had been processed through the traditional SWIFT system, the costs would have reached approximately €17.7 million. Through SEPA, the costs amounted to around €1.3 million, resulting in savings of approximately €16.4 million.

The average cost of a cross-border euro transfer fell from fees ranging between €20 and €150 to approximately €1 per transaction.


"In this first year, we have demonstrated that the Republic of Moldova can rapidly and successfully adopt European financial standards, turning European integration into tangible benefits for citizens and the business community," said NBM Governor Anca Dragu.


According to her, SEPA provides the diaspora and companies with a secure and fast channel for euro transfers, while lower costs allow additional resources to be retained for families, investments, and business development.

The NBM notes that the number of transactions processed daily in the banking system increased by approximately 1,877 following the connection to SEPA, which, according to the institution, reflects the intensification of economic activity and cross-border payments.

Connecting to SEPA is part of the process of modernizing the national payments infrastructure, alongside the development of the MIA Instant Payments system. According to the NBM, the two infrastructures contribute to creating a safer and more efficient financial system and bringing the Republic of Moldova closer to the European single market.

Moldova's path toward SEPA officially began on January 30, 2024, when the NBM submitted its application to join the Single Euro Payments Area. On March 6, 2025, the Republic of Moldova was accepted into the SEPA geographical area, and on October 6, 2025, operational interconnection for euro transfers took place.

SEPA is the European framework that enables euro transfers between participating countries under harmonized conditions regarding cost, security, and processing time.