What is Ropay? A Guide to Ropay Instant Payments in Romania

Please note that the information about RoPay found in this article was taken from their website on 16 February 2025. This information is subject to change.

For decades, businesses had to rely on banking that moved at its own pace, with transfers often taking 2-3 business days to clear. Today's instant payments are changing that reality, bringing transactions up to speed with how modern commerce actually works.

Romania is seeing rapid growth in real-time payments. As of May 2022, 77% of users now using instant bank payments and 12% relying on them several times a day. This reflects a strong and active user base. Banks and financial institutions are rolling out faster, more accessible payment options to integrate instant payments into everyday transactions.

In this guide, we’ll break down RoPay, Romania’s instant payment system – how it works, where it’s used and which banks support it. We’ll also cover its advantages and limitations, helping businesses decide if it fits their payment needs.

What is RoPay?

Launched in 2023, RoPay is Romania’s response to the demand for faster, more accessible payments. Developed on the SENT Instant Payments infrastructure by Transfond, it allows users to send and receive money instantly using mobile banking apps.

By removing card networks from the process, RoPay aims to reduce costs and simplify transactions. However, its adoption depends on wider bank participation, and for now, its reach remains limited.

For businesses that require cross-border payments and broader banking support, open banking solutions provide a more flexible approach by standardising access to banking services across multiple institutions and regions.

How Does RoPay Work?

RoPay enables direct bank-to-bank transfers through mobile banking apps, eliminating the need for cards. Users can move funds instantly between accounts, ensuring fast and seamless transactions.

Payments can be made by selecting RoPay in a banking app or at checkout, scanning a QR code, or using a registered phone number. Transfond’s SENT system processes transactions immediately, ensuring real-time transfers.

RoPay supports various payment scenarios, including person-to-person (P2P) transfers, in-store purchases, online shopping and bill payments. Merchants can integrate RoPay to accept payments via QR codes, NFC or mobile phone numbers, allowing businesses to receive funds instantly and improve cash flow.

Where Can You Pay with RoPay?

RoPay’s instant mobile payments service is designed for both consumers and businesses, enabling fast, card-free transactions directly between bank accounts. It supports various payment scenarios, including:

• Retail & E-commerce – Pay in stores by scanning a RoPay QR code or using NFC. For online purchases, select RoPay at checkout.
• Person-to-Person Transfers – Send and receive money instantly using a mobile phone number or QR code.
• Bill & Utility Payments – Pay directly by scanning a RoPay QR code on invoices or at service providers.
• Service Providers – Use RoPay for payments to professionals like home repair specialists and transportation services.
• Public Transport – Purchase bus tickets by scanning a RoPay QR code inside the vehicle.

While RoPay’s instant payments offer a convenient way to transfer money, its availability depends on bank and merchant adoption. As more institutions integrate the service, its use cases may continue to grow.

Which Banks Support RoPay?

RoPay banks currently include BRD, Libra Internet Bank and CEC Bank, with BCR, ING Bank and Banca Transilvania set to integrate the service soon. While these financial institutions are among the first to adopt RoPay, many others have yet to implement it, which affects the availability of RoPay services for businesses and consumers.

For merchants relying on instant mobile payments, the reach of RoPay banks plays a key role in accessibility. Businesses looking to expand beyond Romania may need a payment solution with broader banking coverage.

Is RoPay a Good Fit for Your Business?

RoPay offers instant bank payments in Romania, providing businesses with faster transactions and lower fees compared to traditional card payments. If you're considering RoPay, it's important to understand its benefits and limitations to see if it aligns with your payment needs:

While RoPay addresses local instant payment needs, open banking solutions provide greater flexibility for businesses looking to expand beyond Romania and streamline payments across multiple markets. With features like cross-border transactions, multi-currency support and seamless API integrations, they offer a scalable approach that adapts to evolving business needs.

Noda: A Smarter Way to Accept Instant Bank Payments

When it comes to instant payments, merchants shouldn't have to choose between speed, flexibility and cost. Noda simplifies payment processing by bringing together all the ways your customers want to pay under one integration – from instant bank transfers to cards – while keeping costs down and transactions fast.

• Larger banking coverage – Works with a wide network of European banks, including BRD Group, ING Bank, Revolut, Raiffeisen, BCR, OTP Bank, Banca Transilvania and Unicredit and others in Romania, offering broader access compared to country-specific solutions.
• More ways to accept payments – Supports instant mobile payments, QR codes, Instant Payment Links and No-Code Payment Pages, giving merchants multiple options to streamline sales.
• Faster adoption for businesses – A fully developed system designed for quick setup, reducing operational delays.
• Lower fees, better flexibility – Designed for businesses selling both in Romania and internationally, ensuring cost-effective transactions without hidden fees.

Why Noda Stands Out in the Instant Payments Market

As instant payments become the new standard, businesses need a solution that offers stability, scalability and ease of integration. RoPay is a step forward for Romania, but for businesses looking to expand globally, accept multiple currencies and access more payment options – Noda provides a more complete, global-ready service that meets the needs of businesses aiming for growth.

Scaling across borders comes with challenges – payments shouldn’t be one of them. With over 2,000 banking partners across 28 countries and more than 30,000 bank branches, Noda ensures businesses can process payments smoothly, no matter where they operate.

With instant payments expanding in Romania, your business can start processing faster, borderless payments today with Noda.