Romania considers law to allow custom ATM withdrawal amounts

A legislative proposal in the Romanian Parliament aims to amend Law no. 209/2019 regarding payment services to allow ATM users to manually enter specific withdrawal amounts. Currently, customers using cards from different banks than the ATM operator are often restricted to a few preset values displayed on the screen.

The proposed change would require ATM operators to allow custom amounts for all users of cards issued by authorized providers in Romania, regardless of the card's issuing bank. While quick-selection options may remain, they cannot replace the ability to input a personalized sum. The feasibility of these withdrawals will still depend on the machine's technical limits, available banknotes, and security protocols.

The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has issued a favorable opinion on the project, noting it could improve cash access, particularly in areas with fewer ATMs. However, the BNR has requested further clarifications regarding the application of these rules to service providers authorized in other EU member states and has recommended consulting the banking system before finalizing the regulations. The project is expected to enter an emergency procedure.