In a National Bank of Moldova financial education podcast on Moldova's European integration, Governor Anca Dragu said the country's accession to the Single Euro Payments Area in October 2025 has sharply reduced the cost of euro transfers for households and businesses, while a separate review of Moldova's banking framework by the European Banking Authority is moving toward completion. She said SEPA membership had produced EUR 8.8 million in savings from October through April, with transfer fees on a EUR 300 payment falling from roughly EUR 30 to EUR 50 to about EUR 1 to EUR 3, depending on the bank and limits. Dragu said Moldova entered SEPA after nearly two years of work to show that its payments system, banking supervision and anti-money laundering framework were aligned with European standards. On banking-sector equivalence, she said the National Bank of Moldova asked the European Banking Authority in February 2024 to assess Moldova's legislation, institutions and supervisory practice against European Union standards. The process has moved from self-assessment to the authority's review phase and will include an on-site assessment. Dragu said the review is now in its second phase and that Moldova expects a result this year, which she said would help signal to European investors that Moldova's banking environment operates under rules comparable to those in the European Union.
National Bank of Moldova2026-06-12
National Bank of Moldova governor says SEPA membership has saved EUR 8.8 million and banking equivalence review is nearing completion
In a National Bank of Moldova podcast, Governor Anca Dragu said Moldova's October 2025 entry into SEPA has cut euro transfer fees from tens of euros to around EUR 1 to EUR 3, generating EUR 8.8 million in savings by April. She also said the European Banking Authority's review of Moldova's banking-sector equivalence is in its second phase, with an on-site assessment still to come and a result expected this year.