CEE Annual Payments Forum 2026 - Association
Regulation, Infrastructure and Stability in the Central and Eastern European Payments Ecosystem
CEE Annual Payments Forum 2026 explores how regulation, infrastructure and risk influence payments across Central and Eastern Europe, covering open finance, instant payments, AI governance and trust in a financial system that operates in real time.
Time
09:00 - 17:00
EEST
Location
National Bank of Romania
Bucharest
About
About the Event
The CEE Annual Payments Forum returns for its fifth edition as a central meeting point for reflection on the structural transformation of payments across Central and Eastern Europe. Established as the flagship event of CEE Perspective, the Forum has, over the years, developed into a space where regulatory developments, technological change and institutional realities are considered together in their full interaction.
Organised under the auspices of the National Bank of Romania, the 2026 edition is held under the theme “Regulation, Infrastructure and Stability in the Central and Eastern European Payments Ecosystem.”
The programme engages with the transition to open finance under PSD3 and PSR, where the allocation of responsibilities, the sustainability of revenue models and the position of mid-sized institutions are becoming increasingly contested. It also addresses the role of instant payments as core financial infrastructure, raising questions around liquidity, operational resilience and cross-border interoperability in a 24/7 environment.
Further discussions focus on the governance of artificial intelligence within financial institutions under DORA and the EU AI Act, with particular attention to accountability, system oversight and dependence on external technology providers. The agenda also considers cybersecurity and digital identity as central elements in maintaining trust within a financial system defined by real-time execution.
Agenda
Event Agenda
12 sessions · EEST
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Registration & Welcome Coffee
Official Opening of the Conference
Panel 1 | Regulation and Open Finance: Structural Implications for the Banking Model and Competition in CEE
The implementation of PSD3/PSR marks the transition from formal open banking to the effective redistribution of financial and operational responsibilities. For the CEE region, the challenges are linked to the allocation of liability for fraud, the sustainability of monetization models, and the impact on mid-sized institutions.
Moderator
Speakers
Adapting the Romanian Banking System to the New European Payments Framework
Speakers
Coffee Break
The Role of Cash in Crisis Situations
Role of cash in crisis situations
Speakers
Panel 2 | Instant Payments as Critical Financial Infrastructure: Operational Stability, Liquidity and Regional Integration
The shift to 24/7 processing transforms banking architecture and risk profiles. Implications include liquidity management, real-time fraud prevention and regional interoperability.
Moderator
Speakers
Networking Lunch
Panel 3 | Artificial Intelligence in the Payments Ecosystem, Governance, risk management and Agentic Commerce: balancing innovation and regulation
The integration of artificial intelligence into payment infrastructures is redefining financial decision-making, transforming the way transactions are assessed, risks are managed and services are delivered to users. AI is becoming a central element of the operational architecture, used in real time to optimize flows, prevent fraud and personalize the customer experience.
Moderator
Speakers
Keynote Speech
Speakers
Panel 4 | Systemic Risk and Trust in Digital Finance: Cybersecurity and Digital Identity in the Instant Payments Ecosystem
Moderator
Speakers
Strategic Conclusions & Closing Remarks
Speakers
Speakers
Our Speakers
Meet our 31 expert speakers
Konrad Slusarczyk
Government Affairs Europe
Visa
Ionuț Horătău
Head of Payments Oversight Division
BNR
Gabriela Folcut
Executive Director
Romanian Banking Association (ARB)
Konstantinos Kaniouras
Officer
Ministry of Finance of Cyprus
Luminița Chivu
President
Romanian Academy, National Institute for Economic Research
Prof. Dan Costin Nitescu
Senior Advisor to the Governor
National Bank of Romania
Florin Dănescu
Executive President
Romanian Association of Banks
Mugur Tolici
Director, Issue, Treasury and Cash Department
National Bank of Romania
Partners
Our Partners
11 organizations supporting this event
Gold
Mastercard
Silver
Banca Transilvania
Libra Internet Bank
Token
Bronce
Visa
Clear Data
Paloalto
Publicis Sapient
Raiffeisen Bank
Support
Finqware
KPMG