Oradea becomes the first city in Romania where public transport tickets can be paid directly on board by scanning a RoPay QR code – Bilet Oradea – using the mobile banking app on a smartphone.
The solution is implemented by OTL in partnership with BCR, as part of a broad process to digitalize public urban mobility services.

How RoPay works in OTL vehicles
• The passenger scans the QR code displayed inside the bus or tram using their mobile banking app (the condition is that their bank must be enrolled in the RoPay system). Currently, the following banks’ apps are enrolled: BCR, CEC Bank, and ING Bank, with others to join in the future.
• The passenger pays 4 lei for a ticket valid for one hour.
• In case of inspection, the passenger can prove payment by showing the transaction in their app.

The solution is available on all OTL public transport vehicles and allows instant, secure, and accessible payments for all passengers—without cash or printed tickets.

The collaboration between BCR and OTL already has a six-year tradition. In 2019, Sibiu and Oradea became the first cities in the country where passengers could pay for their rides directly with a contactless card, thanks to the technology implemented by BCR.

RoPay is the national instant payment scheme developed by TRANSFOND, which enables money transfers in lei in less than 10 seconds, directly from mobile banking applications. It is based on a phone number or QR code scanning and does not require entering banking details such as an IBAN.

Representatives of the two partners said about the project:

“We are pleased to take this step into a new area of innovation. It is another important move toward simplifying public transport payment methods, both for Oradea residents and for tourists, as well as toward the complete modernization of our services. Passengers can pay more easily, and we benefit from a digital, transparent, and fully integrated collection system, thanks to the support provided by BCR.”
— Ing. Adrian Revnic, General Director of Oradea Public Transport Company (OTL)

“Once again, Oradea becomes a benchmark city for the digitalization of public transport. After implementing the contactless card payment solution directly on public transport vehicles, we are now introducing, together, the first QR RoPay payment system in Romania. It is a fast, accessible solution aligned with European standards for urban mobility.”
— Ciprian Nicolae, Head of Card Acceptance Department, BCR

Additional information about the RoPay Instant Payments system is available at www.ropay.ro .