PRESS RELEASE
The Launching Ceremony of the First SEPA Transaction – Albania

On 7 October 2025, under the auspices of the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr Gent Sejko, the launching ceremony of the first SEPA transaction took place at the Bank’s premises.

The ceremony started with opening addresses by Gent Sejko and the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Albania, H.E Mr Silvio Gonzato.

In his speech, Governor Seiko said that development is not merely a technical one in the payment system, but a cornerstone in Albania’s path toward integration into the European financial infrastructure.

This milestone marks a historic moment for the Albanian financial sector, as Albania becomes an operational part of SEPA, bringing tangible benefits for the economy, businesses, and citizens. The benefits are immediate: lower fees for cross-border transfers in Euro, faster transactions, and enhanced security.

This milestone is the outcome of a long-standing journey by the Bank of Albania and the Albanian financial institutions, which have worked step by step, with steadfast commitment, to lay the foundations for a modern and robust payment system. Bank of Albania is fully committed to transforming this process into a platform for innovation and financial inclusion, empowering the Albanian businesses and citizens, while bringing them close to Europe.

This European standard now becomes a reality for Albania, placing our payment infrastructure on the same level as that of EU countries. Integration into SEPA, combined with the expansion of digital payments, is expected to generate savings of around EUR 20 million in the first year only, with progressive growth in the years to come. By way of comparison, AIPS EURO system of the Bank of Albania - operational since January 2022 - has saved the domestic market around EUR 140 million. This shows that SEPA’s impact will be even broader, endorsing lower costs and enhanced operational efficiency for both citizens and businesses. -emphasised the Governor.

Next, the Governor calls upon all commercial banks and financial institutions to actively promote SEPA services, to inform their clients of the tangible benefits, and to invest in the continued enhancement of the digital platforms. ‘’Only through the joint cooperation and unwavering commitment of all stakeholders can Albania fully realize the potential of this historic step toward integration.’’ -said the Governor.

The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Albania, H.E Mr Silvio Gonzato, during his welcoming remarks, said: ‘’As of today, Albanians will be able to transfer money to and from the EU just like any other EU citizen.  This means they will save money, for example on remittances, their businesses’ payments with Europe will be faster and cheaper, tourists will be able to make cashless payments more easily. This is an important step towards a more formal and digital economy, one which will also boost trade. Today we show that political commitments, when pursued vigorously, can bring concrete results also to our citizens.  We also prove that the EU is serious in delivering on its promises once the necessary conditions are met.

The Bank of Albania extends its gratitude to all its partners, the European Commission, the European Payments Council, the Ministry of Finance, and all other involved institutions, commercial banks, and financial institutions and in particular to the World Bank for the successful implementation of this nationwide project.

Information about SEPA

The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) is a strategic initiative of the European Union that standardizes the way euro payments are made within and between participating countries. Currently, SEPA includes 41 member countries, covering all European Union member states, the countries of the European Economic Area, and several Western Balkan countries. This system ensures that cross-border payments are processed under the same rules, standards, and costs as domestic payments.