CEC Bank launches RoPay NFC: instant payments with a simple tap of phones

Instead of entering bank details or scanning a code, customers can initiate a payment by bringing their phone close to the recipient’s phone or to the POS terminal of a merchant enrolled in the RoPay system, and then follow the authorization steps in the CEC app mobile banking application.

CEC Bank is expanding the functionality of RoPay by launching instant payments via NFC, „a solution that allows customers to transfer money quickly and easily simply by bringing their mobile phones close to each other” – according to the press release.

„The new functionality, implemented in the mobile banking app – CEC app – provides an intuitive payment experience, with no need to manually enter bank details or scan a QR code.” – the bank said.

The solution is based on NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, which is already widely used for contactless payments. The process is simple: the devices are brought close to each other, the information required to initiate the transaction is automatically retrieved, and the payment is confirmed in the banking app.

„The transfer is completed instantly, directly from one account to another. The solution is currently available only on mobile devices running the Android operating system.” – the bank explained.

“Instant payments are now faster and more secure than ever: simply bring the phones close to each other and the money is already there, directly in the account! With the new RoPay NFC, we are turning a reflexive everyday gesture into an ultra-fast transfer, while ensuring the highest level of transaction security through advanced encryption technology and authorization directly in the CEC app. This is a decisive step towards the future of digital payments — instant, highly intuitive and protected to the highest standards,” said Mugur Podaru, Director of Remote Operations at CEC Bank.

“The national RoPay service was developed, from concept to implementation, as a pillar of stability and efficiency for the local banking community. The expansion of the RoPay services offered by CEC Bank through the introduction of NFC-based contactless payments, alongside those based on QR codes or phone numbers, provides a robust alternative to traditional payment instruments, directly aligned with European standards. This is not only about simplifying a transfer between two phones, but, above all, about the maturation of a national infrastructure capable of reducing operational costs across the economy and accelerating the transition towards a natively cashless ecosystem,” said Răzvan Faer, Head of the Development Department at TRANSFOND.

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RoPay is the national instant payment service developed by TRANSFOND, enabling money transfers in Romanian lei between bank accounts, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From QR code payments to NFC-based payments, RoPay solutions provide modern alternatives for transferring money, with the benefit of a fast and accessible experience directly from a mobile phone.