TRANSFOND, the Romanian Banking Association, and the entire banking community in Romania announce that the new RoPay system has become operational.
RoPay allows users to make instant mobile payments in line with the national payment scheme. The first banks to go live in production are CEC Bank and Libra Internet Bank, BRD Groupe Societe Generale, ING Bank Romania, BCR, and Banca Transilvania are also in advanced stages of implementation, with RoPay set to launch later this year and in 2025.
Developed by TRANSFOND, RoPay is an instant mobile payment initiation service that enables direct account-to-account transfers (A2A), utilizing technologies such as QR code scanning, deep links, NFC (contactless), or mobile numbers as proxies (aliases) for IBANs. Each bank or merchant can implement one or more types of RoPay payments, depending on their strategy. The RoPay service is being gradually rolled out, as participating banks introduce new features and cover more use cases, while users get accustomed to the service.
The first available use is for proximity-based person-to-person (P2P) payments. RoPay is available 24/7, including weekends and public holidays, ensuring continuous access to funds for all users. Instant payments can be made between accounts at different banks or at the same bank, without using bank details. The service is available to end consumers through the mobile banking apps of participating banks and offers a fast and seamless payment experience, aiming to be integrated into daily life. To use RoPay, both the payer and the recipient must have their bank’s mobile banking app installed and the bank must offer the service. Payments are processed instantly, in less than 10 seconds, with the highest security standards ensuring data and transaction protection.
With RoPay, you can pay a friend or request money, shop online, pay at a supermarket POS, make payments at a local market, or pay for bus tickets or utility bills - just a few examples of the use cases banks and merchants can implement. TRANSFOND and the Romanian Banking Association extend their gratitude for the essential contributions of the National Bank of Romania, commercial banks, payment processors, and major merchants, with whom they consulted directly for the RoPay project. This service is the result of a genuine community effort.
The service is governed by the RoPay Scheme, approved by the National Bank of Romania and managed by TRANSFOND and the Romanian Banking Association.
“RoPay aims to transform payments in Romania, being a new payment method developed together with the Romanian banking system, enabling payments between individuals and between individuals and merchants, both online and offline, using a mobile phone. RoPay is an alternative to cash or card payments, keeping up with technological innovations, allowing the end consumer to choose their preferred payment method. The service also facilitates person-to-person payments, offering a quick, simple, and free method for users. The standardization through the RoPay Scheme ensures interoperability and simplicity for consumers, banks, payment processors, and merchants. In the short to medium term, we expect all banks to offer this service, making it accessible to all Romanian clients,” said Sabin Carantină, General Manager of TRANSFOND.
“The vision for retail payments developed by the Romanian Banking Association becomes a reality through the implementation of the RoPay service, aligning with European trends and regulations. RoPay, a national product, brings added value to consumers through benefits that differentiate it from other payment options, such as speed, lower costs, and continuous availability. The adoption of these innovative digital technologies in national financial-banking services addresses consumer expectations and demands for simplified access to banking operations while ensuring transaction, data, and fund security,” emphasized Bogdan Neacșu, President of the Romanian Banking Association.
“We are grateful that TRANSFOND chose to develop this revolutionary payment service together with Montran. Through the connectivity solutions offered to banks, Montran facilitates their rapid adherence to the RoPay scheme, allowing clients to benefit from this modern and efficient payment method,” declared Alexander Esca, Chairman & CEO of Montran.