Merchant Accounts and Payment Processors in Romania
Complete guide for accepting online and physical payments in Romania — processor comparison, fees, integrations, and recommendations by business type. Updated 2026.
What is a merchant account?
A merchant account is a special bank account that allows a business to accept card payments — online or in-person. Unlike a regular business current account, the merchant account acts as an intermediary between the paying customer and your bank account.
Customer enters card details → processor verifies the transaction (3D Secure) → issuing bank authorizes → funds arrive in your merchant account → transferred to your current account after settlement (T+1 to T+7).
The current account is for regular banking operations. The merchant account is specialized for card payment processing and includes fraud prevention tools, chargeback management, and transaction reporting.
Any business that wants to accept card payments: online stores, SaaS, restaurants, deliveries, freelancers with online invoicing, marketplaces, clinics, subscriptions — essentially any sale to individuals or legal entities.
Popular Payment Processors in Romania
Detailed comparison of the main payment processors available for Romanian businesses.
1.4% + €0.25 (EU cards)
2.9% + €0.25 (non-EU)
No monthly or setup fee
135+ currencies, including RON and EUR. Settlement in RON or EUR.
Full API, Stripe.js, Checkout hosted, plugins for WooCommerce, Shopify, PrestaShop, Magento
1-2 days (automated KYC verification)
Excellent documentation, modern API, Stripe Connect for marketplaces, native recurring and subscriptions, advanced dashboard, 3D Secure 2 support
Email support (no RO phone), does not issue Romanian fiscal invoices, higher fees for non-EU cards, possible account freeze if business is considered risky
~1.5-2.5% per transaction (negotiable)
Monthly fee: from 0 lei
Setup fee: variable
RON, EUR, USD, GBP + other currencies. Direct settlement in RON in Romanian banks.
REST API, PHP/Java/.NET SDK, plugins for WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart. Hosted or embedded checkout.
3-7 business days (contract + KYC)
Most popular in RO, fast settlement in RON, phone support in Romanian, installment payments (BT, BCR, BRD), e-Invoice compatible, card tokenization
Older dashboard, less modern documentation than Stripe, negotiable fees = non-transparent, contract may include lock-in
~1.5-2% per transaction
Monthly fee: 0 lei (basic package)
Setup fee: 0 lei
RON, EUR. Settlement in RON through Romanian banks.
API v2, PHP SDK, plugins for WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart. Payment via SMS, QR code, payment link.
2-5 business days
Romanian company, excellent local support, mobilPay SMS, integration with RO courier systems, fast onboarding, QR payment, popular with small/medium stores
Limited to RO market, less modern API, not ideal for international SaaS, documentation sometimes outdated
~1.5-2.5% per transaction (negotiable)
Monthly fee: variable
Setup fee: may be 0
RON, EUR. Settlement in RON.
API, plugins for WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop, OpenCart. Redirect checkout.
3-7 business days
Long market experience, strong relationships with RO banks, local support, accepts many local card types, installment payments
Outdated admin interface, less modern documentation, exclusively RO market, older API
1.9% + €0.25 (EU cards)
3.4% + €0.25 (non-EU)
PayPal: 2.9% + fixed
130+ currencies. Settlement in EUR (additional RON conversion).
Drop-in UI, full API, multiple SDKs, PayPal Checkout, Venmo (US), Apple Pay, Google Pay.
2-5 days (PayPal Business account required)
Native PayPal integration, customers with PayPal accounts pay fast, Apple/Google Pay, vault for tokenization, recurring, familiar to international customers
Higher fees than Stripe, no direct settlement in RON, PayPal holds funds in disputes, slower support for RO, possible account freezing
Interchange++ (maximum transparency)
Processing: ~€0.10-0.12/transaction
Interchange: depends on card
Minimum volume required
150+ currencies, 250+ global payment methods. Settlement in RON and EUR possible.
Unified online + POS API, Drop-in Components, own POS terminals, omnichannel integration.
2-4 weeks (enterprise onboarding)
Transparent interchange++ pricing, omnichannel (online + POS), advanced risk management, marketplace split payments, global reach, detailed reporting
High minimum volume (not for micro-businesses), complex setup, enterprise contract, not accessible for small start-ups, limited RO support
In-person: 1.65% per transaction
Online: 2.5% + €0.25
No monthly fee on basic plan
EUR, GBP, USD. Limited availability in RO — check eligibility.
Square Reader POS terminal, Square Online (website builder), API, e-commerce plugins, integrated invoicing.
1-3 days (after receiving the terminal)
Complete POS + online ecosystem, affordable hardware, unified dashboard, inventory and reports included, free website builder, no long-term contract
Limited availability in Romania, no RON settlement, no RO support, not suitable for high volume, limited features vs Stripe API
In-person: 1.69% per transaction
Online: 2.5%
POS terminal: from ~€39 (one-time payment)
EUR (settlement in EUR). Available in Romania.
Portable POS terminal (Bluetooth), payment link, basic API, simple invoicing via app.
1-2 days (online account + terminal delivery)
Very easy to use, no monthly fee, cheap and portable terminal, ideal for fairs/markets/deliveries, fast settlement (1-2 days), intuitive mobile app
Limited API, not suitable for complex e-commerce, settlement in EUR (not RON), basic RO support, no advanced recurring payments
1% + €0.20 (EU cards, Grow plan)
2.8% + €0.20 (non-EU)
Subscription: from €0 (Free) to €100/month
30+ currencies, including RON and EUR. Interbank exchange rate in account.
Payment links, Revolut Pay button, API, Revolut Reader (physical POS), QR code payments.
A few hours — fully digital onboarding
Fastest onboarding, low EU fees, excellent exchange rate, multi-currency account, modern app, instant payment links, RON and EUR IBAN
Not a dedicated processor (limited features vs Stripe), more basic API, Free plan limitations, slower support, no native CMS plugins
1.5% + €0.25 (Basic plan, EU)
2% + €0.25 (non-EU)
Lower fees on higher plans
Shopify subscription: from €36/month
Multi-currency, including RON and EUR. Settlement in account currency.
Natively integrated in Shopify — zero additional setup. Optimized checkout, Shop Pay, Apple/Google Pay.
Instant (if you already have a Shopify account)
Zero technical integration, no additional Shopify transaction fee, Shop Pay (high conversion), native Apple/Google Pay, unified dashboard with store
Available only on Shopify, requires Shopify subscription, limited availability in RO (check), cannot be used on other CMS, platform lock-in
Types of payment integrations
Payment Gateway (Redirect)
The customer is redirected to the processor's page to enter card details. Easiest to implement, secure (PCI compliance at processor). E.g., PayU, Netopia hosted checkout.
Embedded Checkout (iframe)
The payment form is integrated directly into your page (iframe or JS component). Smoother experience, no redirect. E.g., Stripe Elements, Adyen Drop-in, Braintree Hosted Fields.
Direct API (Custom)
Full control — send card data via server-to-server API. Requires PCI DSS Level 1 certification (costly). Recommended only for large companies. E.g., Stripe direct API, Adyen API.
POS Terminal (Physical)
Physical terminal for contactless/chip/magnetic stripe payments. Ideal for retail, restaurants, deliveries. E.g., SumUp Air, Square Reader, myPOS, Adyen terminals, classic bank terminals.
Payment Link / Invoicing
Generate a unique link and send it to the customer via email, SMS, or WhatsApp. The customer pays without you having a website. Ideal for freelancers, services, invoices. E.g., Stripe Payment Links, Revolut Pay Links, SumUp invoices.
What to look for when choosing a payment processor
Hidden fees
Check for monthly fees, setup fee, refund fee, chargeback fee (€15-25), currency conversion fee, inactivity fee, or contract termination fee.
Minimum contract / lock-in
Some local processors require a 12-24 month contract with termination penalties. Stripe, SumUp, and Revolut have no lock-in — you can cancel anytime.
Settlement time
T+1 (next day) — Stripe, Revolut. T+2 — PayU, SumUp. T+3 to T+7 — some local processors, especially at the start (rolling reserve). Faster is better for cash flow.
3D Secure / PSD2 compliance
Mandatory in EU/EEA. All serious processors support 3D Secure 2 (SCA — Strong Customer Authentication). Verify that the chosen solution correctly implements SCA to avoid transaction declines.
Customer support in Romania
Local processors (PayU, Netopia, euPlatesc) offer phone support in Romanian. Stripe, Adyen, Braintree — email/chat support in English. For urgent issues (blocked account), local support matters a lot.
Chargebacks — policies and costs
Each chargeback costs €15-25 regardless of outcome. High chargeback rate (>1%) can lead to account closure. Check how the processor helps you prevent and dispute chargebacks.
Currency conversion markup
If you accept payments in EUR but settle in RON (or vice versa), the processor applies a conversion markup of 1-3%. Revolut has the best rate. Ideal: accept and settle in the same currency.
PCI DSS compliance
Mandatory standard for anyone processing card data. Using hosted or embedded checkout (Stripe.js, PayU redirect), the processor handles compliance. Direct API requires own PCI DSS certification.
e-Invoice Romania compatibility
From 2024, the ANAF e-Invoice system is mandatory for B2B and B2G transactions. Check if the processor integrates with your invoicing software (SmartBill, Oblio, FGO) for automatic payment reconciliation.
Withdrawals in RON vs EUR
International processors (Stripe, Braintree, Adyen) usually settle in EUR. If you have expenses in RON, you will incur additional conversion costs. PayU and Netopia settle directly in RON.
Rolling reserve
Some processors hold 5-10% of transactions for 90-180 days as a guarantee against chargebacks. Common for new businesses, high-risk, or inconsistent volumes. Ask explicitly about rolling reserve before signing the contract.
Recommendations by business type
Payment links for invoices, fast onboarding, no monthly fee. Revolut also offers a business account with RON IBAN. Ideal for consultants, designers, developers.
Settlement in RON, local support, WooCommerce/PrestaShop plugins. Installment payments for customers. Compatible with Romanian couriers (FAN, Sameday, Cargus).
Native recurring payments, billing portal, proration, trial periods, revenue recovery (dunning). Stripe Billing is the most advanced for SaaS.
Split payments between sellers, KYC onboarding per seller, automatic payout. Stripe Connect is the industry standard for marketplaces.
Portable POS terminal, no monthly fee, per-transaction fee. myPOS offers instant settlement to your own account. Ideal for restaurants, cafes, physical stores.
Interchange++ pricing (most transparent), omnichannel (online + in-store), advanced risk management, dedicated account manager, guaranteed SLA, ERP integration.
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The information is indicative and does not constitute financial advice. Fees and conditions may vary — check directly on each processor's website. Updated 2026.