Payment methods in Moldova

Europe

7methods

2banks

MIA instant payments system launched 2024, enabling real-time transfers via phone number/QR code; one in three Moldovans has used it

Market takeaways

MIA instant payments system launched 2024, enabling real-time transfers via phone number/QR code; one in three Moldovans has used it
Moldova became an operational SEPA member in October 2025, enabling EU-equivalent euro payment conditions
3.29 million cards in circulation at end-2024; virtual card adoption grew 118.7% versus 2023
E-money payments grew 65% year-on-year in 2024, totaling 3.5 million transactions worth EUR 148M
Mobile and internet banking app users grew 22% year-on-year in 2024

Population

2.6M

Online population

~2.1M (~80%)

Banked population

~65%

Credit card population

~40%

Payment method breakdown

Cash40%
Card35%
Bank Transfer / MIA15%
E-Wallet8%
Other2%

Card scheme breakdown

Visa50%
Mastercard45%
American Express1%
Local Schemes3%
Other1%

Cross-border e-commerce

Market data coming soon.

Featured payment methods in Moldova

Popular options based on coverage and prominence in this market.

Bank Transfer (Internet & Mobile Banking)

Generic online and mobile bank-transfer methods (internet banking, e-banking, EFT and interbank transfers). Customers pay directly from their bank account via their bank's own online/mobile banking portal. Implementation and rails differ by country, but the consumer flow is a standard account-to-account bank transfer.

Mastercard

Mastercard is a leading global card network supporting credit, debit and prepaid card payments online, in-store and at ATMs worldwide. In the listed countries it is a core internationally accepted scheme.

Visa

Visa is the world's largest card network, enabling credit, debit and prepaid card payments online, in-store and at ATMs across virtually every market. In the listed countries Visa is a core internationally accepted scheme alongside local methods.

Paymaster (RunPay) / Paynet / BPay

Five licensed e-money issuers operate in Moldova: Paymaster (RunPay), Paynet, BPay, QIWI-M, and FinTecly. These provide digital wallets, utility bill payment, and e-money services for the domestic market.

Cash

Still widely used, particularly in rural areas and among older demographics. Despite rapid digital adoption, cash remains prevalent for everyday small transactions.

MIA Instant Payments

Moldova's national instant payment system launched in 2024 by the National Bank of Moldova. Transfers are free up to MDL 10,000/month, with a max fee of MDL 5 above that. Uses phone numbers as identifiers and supports QR code payments. Over 750,000 users and 13 million transactions as of early 2026, with 1 in 3 Moldovans having used it at least once.