The CEE Annual Payments Forum 2025

2025

The Fourth edition of the CEE Annual Payments Forum took place on the 21th of October 2025.

SPEAKERS

Adrian Dinculescu

Namirial

Managing Director

Agathe Blaga

National Bank of Romania

Deputy Director, Financial Market Infrastructures and Payments Oversight Department

Ana-Maria Georgescu

Smart Fintech

Co-founder & Member Romanian Fintech Association

Andrei Burz Pinzaru

Deloitte Legal Romania

Partner

Burak Yildiran

Token Payment Services

Chief Executive Officer

Catalin Caragea

Banca Transilvania

Chief Risk Officer

Cosmin Curticapean

LENDOX

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Cosmin Marinescu

National Bank of Romania

Deputy Governor

Cosmin Tudor

Adastra Romania

Country Lead

Dan Cimpean

National Cyber Security Directorate

Director

Prof. Dan Costin Nitescu

National Bank of Romania

Senior Advisor to the Governor

Daniel Georgescu

dMonitor

Chief Executive Officer

Diederik Bruggink

European Savings and Retail Banking Group

Senior Director, Digital Finance and Innovation

Elena Ungureanu

Visa Romania

Country Manager Romania

Eric Ducoulombier

DG FISMA, European Comission

Acting Director Horizontal Policies

Florian Neagu

National Bank of Romania

Director, Financial Stability

Florin Danescu

Romanian Banking Association (ARB)

Executive President

Gabriel-Cătălin Dinu

National Cyber Security Directorate

Deputy Director

Gabriel Tanase

KPMG Romania

Partner, Technology & Cyber Security

Galya Dimitrova

Iris Solutions

Managing Partner

Grigore Bogdan Ionita

Transfond

RoPay Business Development Manager

Ralph Rogobete

Mastercard Romania

Public Policy Manager

Tolga Banyocu

Garanti BBVA Romania

Deputy General Manager

AGENDA

09:00

Registration & Welcome Coffee

09:00

Registration & Welcome Coffee

10:00

20 Min.

Opening Remarks

Cosmin Marinescu

National Bank of Romania

Deputy Governor

10:00

20 Min.

Opening Remarks

Cosmin Marinescu

National Bank of Romania

Deputy Governor

10:20

25 Min.

Keynote Speech

Eric Ducoulombier

DG FISMA, European Comission

Acting Director Horizontal Policies

10:20

25 Min.

Keynote Speech

Eric Ducoulombier

DG FISMA, European Comission

Acting Director Horizontal Policies

10:45

55 Min.

Panel 1: Digital Transition, Regulation & Cybersecurity

Industry leaders examine how regulation, banking transformation, and cybersecurity challenges shape the digital payments future. The panel addresses compliance, innovation, and strategies for securing transactions in an increasingly interconnected financial ecosystem.

Moderator

Prof. Dan Costin Nitescu

National Bank of Romania

Senior Advisor to the Governor

Gabriel-Cătălin Dinu

National Cyber Security Directorate

Deputy Director

Ralph Rogobete

Mastercard Romania

Public Policy Manager

Gabriel Tanase

KPMG Romania

Partner, Technology & Cyber Security

Andrei Burz Pinzaru

Deloitte Legal Romania

Partner

Catalin Caragea

Banca Transilvania

Chief Risk Officer

Florin Danescu

Romanian Banking Association (ARB)

Executive President

10:45

55 Min.

Panel 1: Digital Transition, Regulation & Cybersecurity

Industry leaders examine how regulation, banking transformation, and cybersecurity challenges shape the digital payments future. The panel addresses compliance, innovation, and strategies for securing transactions in an increasingly interconnected financial ecosystem.

Moderator

Prof. Dan Costin Nitescu

National Bank of Romania

Senior Advisor to the Governor

Gabriel-Cătălin Dinu

National Cyber Security Directorate

Deputy Director

Ralph Rogobete

Mastercard Romania

Public Policy Manager

Gabriel Tanase

KPMG Romania

Partner, Technology & Cyber Security

Andrei Burz Pinzaru

Deloitte Legal Romania

Partner

Catalin Caragea

Banca Transilvania

Chief Risk Officer

Florin Danescu

Romanian Banking Association (ARB)

Executive President

11:40

Coffee Break

11:40

Coffee Break

12:10

55 Min.

Panel 2: Payments Infrastructure & Innovation

This discussion focuses on the evolution of payment systems, from instant transfers and open banking to fintech-driven solutions. Experts explore innovation, collaboration between banks and tech firms, and how robust infrastructure can support growth and resilience in the CEE region.

Moderator

Elena Ungureanu

Visa Romania

Country Manager Romania

Grigore Bogdan Ionita

Transfond

RoPay Business Development Manager

Galya Dimitrova

Iris Solutions

Managing Partner

Diederik Bruggink

European Savings and Retail Banking Group

Senior Director, Digital Finance and Innovation

Ana-Maria Georgescu

Smart Fintech

Co-founder & Member Romanian Fintech Association

Burak Yildiran

Token Payment Services

Chief Executive Officer

12:10

55 Min.

Panel 2: Payments Infrastructure & Innovation

This discussion focuses on the evolution of payment systems, from instant transfers and open banking to fintech-driven solutions. Experts explore innovation, collaboration between banks and tech firms, and how robust infrastructure can support growth and resilience in the CEE region.

Moderator

Elena Ungureanu

Visa Romania

Country Manager Romania

Grigore Bogdan Ionita

Transfond

RoPay Business Development Manager

Galya Dimitrova

Iris Solutions

Managing Partner

Diederik Bruggink

European Savings and Retail Banking Group

Senior Director, Digital Finance and Innovation

Ana-Maria Georgescu

Smart Fintech

Co-founder & Member Romanian Fintech Association

Burak Yildiran

Token Payment Services

Chief Executive Officer

13:05

55 Min.

Panel 3: New Tech & Digital Resilience

Speakers highlight how AI, digital identity, and emerging technologies are redefining resilience in finance. The panel explores strategies to strengthen cybersecurity, build trust in new tools, and ensure that innovation enhances security in a fast-changing digital payments environment.

Moderator

Florian Neagu

National Bank of Romania

Director, Financial Stability

Cosmin Curticapean

LENDOX

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Daniel Georgescu

dMonitor

Chief Executive Officer

Adrian Dinculescu

Namirial

Managing Director

Cosmin Tudor

Adastra Romania

Country Lead

Tolga Banyocu

Garanti BBVA Romania

Deputy General Manager

13:05

55 Min.

Panel 3: New Tech & Digital Resilience

Speakers highlight how AI, digital identity, and emerging technologies are redefining resilience in finance. The panel explores strategies to strengthen cybersecurity, build trust in new tools, and ensure that innovation enhances security in a fast-changing digital payments environment.

Moderator

Florian Neagu

National Bank of Romania

Director, Financial Stability

Cosmin Curticapean

LENDOX

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Daniel Georgescu

dMonitor

Chief Executive Officer

Adrian Dinculescu

Namirial

Managing Director

Cosmin Tudor

Adastra Romania

Country Lead

Tolga Banyocu

Garanti BBVA Romania

Deputy General Manager

14:05

10 Min.

Closing Remarks

Agathe Blaga

National Bank of Romania

Deputy Director, Financial Market Infrastructures and Payments Oversight Department

14:05

10 Min.

Closing Remarks

Agathe Blaga

National Bank of Romania

Deputy Director, Financial Market Infrastructures and Payments Oversight Department

14:10

Lunch

14:10

Lunch

15:00

Guided Visit – National Bank of Romania Museum

15:00

Guided Visit – National Bank of Romania Museum

PANEL PREVIEW

GALLERY

Save The Dates

20 November 2025

CEE Regulations Academy Conference

Join the CEE Regulations Academy Conference to master complex financial regulations such as ESG, DORA, and Basel III. Tailored for financial professionals in Central and Eastern Europe, this event offers expert-led masterclasses, interactive sessions, and valuable networking opportunities. Gain localised insights and actionable strategies to enhance compliance and resilience in your organisation.