In 2014, cash withdrawals rose by 7% and reached RON126 billion (EUR28 billion). Against 2008, when the first data on card transactions was published, sums withdrawn from ATMs rose by 60%, while payments at retailers almost tripled.
“The faster advance of payments is a tendency that has been expected for some time, as many people did not even know cards can be used for direct payments. People are starting to understand cards’ utility beyond ATM withdrawals and I believe the tendency will maintain,” explained economic analyst Aurelian Dochia.
At the end of 2014, banks had around 11 million active cards in their portfolios, down 300,000 units on the year. However, the number of active cards rose against September.
In 2014, card owners operated 215 million payments at local and foreign retailers, 35 million transactions more than in 2013. The number of ATM withdrawals came at 234 million transactions. By comparison, in 2013, the number of withdrawals reached 230 million transactions.
The network of POS-es installed by banks at local retailers in late 2014 included almost 135,000 units, an all-time high, around 7.400 units more than in December 2013. The number of ATMs reached 10,950 units, around 200 units more against the previous year.
The average value of a deal by card at retailers stood at RON141, RON4 less against 2013. The average value has been on a constant decline in recent years as a rising number of Romanians have started using their cards for frequent and low-value payments.
The average value of withdrawals from ATMs amounted to RON536 last year, around one third of the net average monthly salary of around RON1,600.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)