[REVISION HISTORY]

Digital payment and mobile banking growth in Serbia

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2026-09-02 21:10 UTC → 2026-09-16 15:25 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Serbia is experiencing a significant shift toward cashless transactions and digital payment methods. Consumer sentiment remains high, with a Visa Stay Secure study indicating that 98% of consumers trust digital payments and approximately 90% believe new technologies enhance online shopping safety. Data from the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) confirms substantial growth in card usage. By the end of the second quarter of 2026, the country recorded 7.1 million card users and 13.7 million issued cards, a 5.5 percent increase from the previous year. Card-based purchases in stores rose 19.3 percent year-over-year to 237.9 million transactions. Of these, 220.9 million were made with domestic cards and 17 million with foreign-issued cards. Over the last five years, total card purchases have increased by 105 percent. The NBS attributes this expansion to a long-term move away from cash and Serbia’s growing appeal as a tourist destination. Supporting infrastructure has expanded, with merchant POS solutions increasing by 10.1 percent ~~to approximately 195,000~~ and the ATM network growing by 6.8 ~~percent to 3,412 machines.~~ percent. Recent data highlights a surge in mobile banking, with payments via mobile applications increasing by nearly 27 percent between April and June compared to the previous year. ~~More than 5.4 million users now utilize mobile banking applications.~~ Instant payments through the IPS system reached 34 million transactions in a three-month period, setting a daily record of over 600,000 payments on May 15. ~~Additionally, remote loan applications rose by more than 80 percent, while online shopping transactions increased by nearly one-third year-over-year~~ Expanding on this digital transition, new regulations effective September 16 require all Serbian state authorities and local governments to ~~34.2 million purchases, supported by over 6,000 domestic online stores.~~ register with the ‘Plati’ (Pay) system. This mandate aims to eliminate the need for citizens to present paper receipts for state fees or taxes. Administrative clerks must now verify payments using a citizen’s unique identification number (JMBG), name, and surname. Officials who fail to comply with these legal obligations face fines ranging from 30,000 to 150,000 dinars.

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