The National Bank of Serbia published payment system statistics showing that digital banking use continued to rise in 2025, with a shift toward mobile channels. For the first time since digital banking tools were introduced in Serbia, the number of payments executed via mobile banking exceeded those made via electronic banking, a trend supported by the National Bank of Serbia’s Instant Payments System (IPS NBS). By end-2025, 5.1 million customers were registered for mobile banking, up 11.3% from 4.6 million at end-2024, while electronic banking users rose 12.1% to 4.9 million from 4.4 million. In 2025, citizens and businesses made 272.9 million payments using digital banking instruments, split between 137.5 million via mobile banking (3.6 times the 37.8 million recorded in 2020) and 135.4 million via electronic banking (down 5.6% from 143.4 million in 2020). IPS NBS functionality highlighted includes IPS Scan and IPS Show at points of sale, QR-code bill and invoice payments, and the Transfer service enabling account-to-account transfers using mobile phone numbers; in 2025, more than 30.2 million bills and invoices were paid via QR code (up 45.2% year on year), and Transfer-service usage doubled versus the prior year.
National Bank of Serbia 2026-03-05
National Bank of Serbia reports mobile banking payments overtook electronic banking in 2025
The National Bank of Serbia reported a significant rise in digital banking usage in 2025, with mobile banking payments surpassing electronic banking for the first time, supported by the Instant Payments System (IPS NBS). Mobile banking registrations increased by 11.3% to 5.1 million, while electronic banking users grew by 12.1% to 4.9 million. In 2025, 272.9 million digital payments were made, with mobile banking accounting for 137.5 million and electronic banking 135.4 million.