Serbia has officially become a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) as of today, the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) announced. Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković highlighted that joining SEPA is a recognition for Serbia, demonstrating full compliance with all relevant EU regulations in this area. The practical implementation of the SEPA system in Serbia is expected in May 2026, according to Finance Minister Siniša Mali.
The National Bank of Serbia stated that Serbia is now officially part of the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).
What is SEPA?
SEPA is a European Union project introduced after the euro became a single currency. Its goal is to make payments between member states more efficient and cost-effective for users by establishing uniform rules and practices applied by all banks and other payment service providers in the European Union. Membership in SEPA enables savings for both the sender and receiver of money.
“The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has taken steps to harmonize its payment systems and regulations with European Union (EU) standards. With this, Serbia has become the 41st SEPA member, which represents an important step on its path to European integration,” the statement emphasized.
As a result, the NBS explained, all participants in the European Payments Council’s payment schemes will be able to send and receive SEPA Credit Transfers (SCT), SEPA Instant Credit Transfers (SCT Inst), and SEPA Direct Debits (SDD) to and from participants in SCT, SCT Inst, and SDD payment schemes from Serbia once Serbian financial institutions join these schemes.
The accession of Serbian financial institutions to SEPA payment schemes, according to the European Payments Council’s calendar, will be possible from November 2025. The earliest date for operational readiness for payment service providers from Serbia is May 2026. The exact date will be announced later.
NBS Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković stressed that joining SEPA is a recognition for Serbia, as it demonstrates full compliance with all relevant EU regulations in this area and is further proof of its European path.
“The Republic of Serbia has, over the past years, introduced the most modern services based on transactions executed in a few seconds into its domestic payment system, which constitutes by far the largest part of daily payments for citizens and businesses, while also ensuring the independence and reliability of the national payment system. Joining SEPA, for which we have long been ready, now gives us the opportunity to make payment transactions with EU countries more efficient, and the NBS will continue to implement this process, taking into account all the aforementioned principles,” Tabaković stated.
Giorgio Andreoli, Director General of the European Payments Council, said that Serbia’s inclusion in SEPA represents a significant step forward in improving payment integration across Europe and demonstrates the European Payments Council’s continued commitment to harmonizing electronic payments beyond the EU.
Mali: SEPA System to Be Applied in May 2026
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali stated that the practical implementation of the SEPA system in Serbia is expected in May 2026.
“Thanks to our becoming part of SEPA, our citizens will carry out euro payment transactions with SEPA member countries, which include all European Union (EU) members, much more efficiently, faster, and cheaper. This achievement formally confirms Serbia’s alignment with all relevant EU regulations in the field of payment transactions and further strengthens our commitment to the European path. This is a result of the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which aims to accelerate economic convergence with the EU and strengthen regional cooperation,” Mali said.
With this membership, he noted, Serbia will enable more efficient, secure, and cheaper execution of euro payment transactions with SEPA members, under the same conditions that apply within the European Union.
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Source: RTS, Foto: Reuters