Governor of the National Bank of Moldova Anca Draghu (photo - Banca Națională a Moldovei)

On Monday, October 6, the Republic of Moldova became a full-fledged member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). About reported National Bank of Moldova (NBM).

NBM Governor Anca Draghu called moldova's accession to SEPA as a "historic step on the way to Europe".

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From now on, Moldovan citizens can send and receive money in euros on the same terms as EU residents – quickly and with minimal or no fees, she emphasized.

According to the National Bank, whereas previously the cost of an international transfer ranged from 20 euros to 200 euros, it will now be processed according to the same standards and tariffs as in the European Union – for just a few euros or free of charge.

Thanks to the country's integration into SEPA, Moldovan exporters will be able to save about EUR 20 million a year by reducing transaction costs in trade with the EU.

Eight Moldovan commercial banks have already received the status of SEPA participant, the NBM added.

Moldova initiated the process of joining the single euro payment area on January 30, 2024, by submitting an official application to the European Payments Council (EPC). on March 6, 2025, the Council approved Moldova's inclusion in the SEPA geographic area.

According to the NBM, in 2024, about 830,000 transactions totaling EUR 11.8 billion were made between Moldova and SEPA countries.

  • SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) unites 41 European countries, including all EU states, as well as the United Kingdom, the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican. The system allows transfers in European currency between the payment systems of the participating countries on the same terms and conditions.
  • NBU starts negotiations on Ukraine's accession to SEPA more in July 2022. Then Oleksiy Shaban in an interview with LIGA.net said that the NBU plans to improve the Ukrainian payment system SEP and transfer it to a new international standard.
  • In July 2025, the European Business Association called for changes to be made to the draft law on Ukraine's accession to SEPA "in view of public concern about disclosure of banking information". After the appointment of the new Cabinet of Ministers draft law No. 13233 was withdrawn from the Verkhovna Rada.