Romania expands instant digital payments with eMAG's RoPay and rising e‑wallet use

eMAG has launched RoPay, a free instant payment method that lets shoppers confirm purchases directly through their bank’s mobile app using PIN, fingerprint or Face ID. The service currently works with ING Bank, BCR, Salt Bank, CEC Bank, Libra Internet Bank, Vista Bank and Banca Transilvania, with more institutions to be added.

At the same time, electronic wallets are increasingly replacing traditional bank transfers for online purchases in Romania. Eurostat data show a 43‑point rise in the share of Romanians buying online over the past decade, one of the EU’s largest jumps. E‑wallets enable instant, app‑based payments without entering IBAN details, and EU regulation (eIDAS 2.0) requires member states to provide a digital identity wallet by 2026, prompting Romanian authorities to tighten transparency rules for digital payment tools, including clear fee disclosures for sectors such as online gambling.