Montenegro’s domestic payment system will now operate on weekends and public holidays, the Central Bank announced.
According to the statement, this change allows citizens and businesses to execute financial transactions on Saturdays, Sundays, and during national and other holidays. Transactions up to €1,000 can be processed until 14:30, while transactions above €1,000 will be handled until 15:00.
“By introducing weekend and holiday operations, the domestic payment system will be active an additional 118 days per year, ensuring continuous processing of payments throughout the year. Funds will no longer ‘wait until Monday’ but will be transferred between accounts during weekends and holidays, reducing the average transaction time in Montenegro by approximately 0.43 days, or 10 hours and 20 minutes,” the Central Bank stated.
The faster flow of funds between banks and businesses is expected to release around €32 million annually that is currently held in the system due to settlement delays. “This capital will be available for banks and companies to use for investments, lending, and daily operations,” the statement added.
Additionally, companies and individuals will no longer need to rely on short-term loans or overdrafts to cover cash flow gaps during non-working days. This is projected to reduce financing costs and interest on short-term credit, generating estimated annual savings of €1.6 million for businesses and citizens. The effect stems from improved cash flow management and real-time liquidity availability.
The Central Bank reminded that, since 18 August 2025, the domestic payment system’s working hours on weekdays have been extended to 19:30 for transactions up to €1,000 and to 20:00 for transactions above €1,000, with six clearing cycles per day.
“Extending payment system operations to weekends and holidays represents another key step in modernizing the national payment infrastructure and preparing for the introduction of instant payments through the TIPS Clone project, implemented by the Central Bank of Montenegro in cooperation with the Bank of Italy and the World Bank. The TIPS Clone system is expected to be launched in July 2026, enabling real-time payments for citizens and businesses in Montenegro 24/7/365,” the bank emphasized.
Through these measures, the Central Bank of Montenegro demonstrates a strong commitment to developing a modern, efficient, and inclusive payment system. Combined with Montenegro’s SEPA membership, this ensures faster, cheaper, safer, and more accessible money transfers in line with the highest European standards and practices.
