Digital payment processor Netopia mobilPAY recorded more than 3 million online transactions in the first nine months of the year, the figure being 15% higher than the number registered in the whole year 2015.

By the end of the year, the Romanians are expected to make 4.5 million transactions, which represents a 73% year-on-year increase, according to a company statement. The total amounts paid digitally will also go up 30% this year compared to 2015, to EUR 175 million.

Some 30% of the total Netopia mobilPay transactions registered this year were made from mobile devices, according to a company statement. Most of them were made from smartphones, namely 26%, while the rest of 4% came from tablets.

Most of the electronic and mobile payments were made by people aged between 25 and 44, while young people with ages of 18-24 made 15% of the transactions registered by Netopia mobilPAY. Men make most of the online transactions, namely 60%.

“Digital payments grow gradually throughout the country. If in previous years Bucharest generated over 50% of all online and mobile transactions, we notice that this year cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, and Constanta helped the province surpass the capital,” said Antonio Eram, CEO and founder Netopia mobilPAY.

Bucharesters generated about 42% of all transactions registered by the company in the first nine months, the share being lower than last year, when Bucharest residents made more than half of operations. Cluj-Napoca ranks second with a share of 9% of all digital payments, up from 5% in 2015.

On the other hand, the average amount spent online during this period stood at RON 230 (some EUR 53), similar to last year. The highest digital payments registered by Netopia mobilPay amounted to RON 91,000 (over EUR 20,400) and RON 73,000 (EUR 16,400), for bills.

The Bitcoin payments also maintained an upward trend this year, registering a month-on-month increase of 50% for large traders.

Romanians still prefer cash to card payments

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com