Montenegro’s Central Bank (CBCG) announced that the country’s adoption of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) has generated measurable savings of about €2.4 million over the first three months of use. The analysis covered the period from October 7, 2025, when SEPA became operational in Montenegro, through January 7, 2026, according to a CBCG report.
The Central Bank highlighted a stark difference in fees between SEPA and traditional international payments via the SWIFT network. During the analyzed period the average cost of a SEPA transfer was approximately €6.15, while a comparable SWIFT payment in 2024 cost about €73.40 — meaning SEPA payments were nearly 12 times cheaper on average.
For smaller transfers of up to €200, the average SEPA fee for individuals was only about €0.067, compared with €18.14 for SWIFT.
CBCG officials noted that while the savings are already significant, there remains potential for even greater cost reductions, especially in the business sector where many transactions still go through the more expensive SWIFT system. The move to SEPA is part of broader efforts to modernize Montenegro’s financial infrastructure and align with European standards ahead of future economic integration.
