iBanFirst, a leading provider of forex exchange and international payments for businesses, present in 10 European countries, achieved remarkable growth in Romania during 2024, as Romanian businesses increasingly turned to digital solutions to power their international operations. The company’s Bucharest office recorded €1.38 billion in international transaction volume, representing a 75% year-over-year increase. International payments through the platform rose by 42%, while foreign exchange deals increased by 57% during 2024. "Our exceptional growth in Romania over the past year has surpassed our expectations," said Alin Latu, Country Manager iBanFirst Romania. "Romania is one of our most dynamic growth markets across all key metrics, reflecting the strong appreciation for our blend of cutting-edge technology and local expertise. We remain committed to empowering Romanian businesses in their growth journeys, offering them the financial tools and tailored expertise they need to thrive internationally." iBanFirst's success in the Romanian market stems from its unique combination of state-of-the-art technology and local expertise. Through iBanFirst's digital platform, businesses can conduct fast and secure international transactions in over 30 currencies at lower costs, while tracking payments in real-time. Complementing this advanced platform, companies benefit from a team of Romanian-speaking forex specialists, deeply familiar with regional market conditions, business practices, and client needs. These experts work closely with SMEs to develop tailored hedging strategies and provide business advice, enabling them to protect profit margins and maintain competitive pricing in global markets. This powerful blend of digital innovation and personalized expertise has proven especially valuable for Romanian businesses navigating the challenges of international trade. iBanFirst Romania’s revenue growth in 2024 was driven by a balanced mix of services, with international spot payments representing 65% of total revenue, while hedging solutions accounting for 35%. International spot payments, used for immediate foreign exchange transactions, reflected businesses’ need for operational flexibility. SMEs relied on this service to seize trade opportunities in dynamic markets, meet urgent payment deadlines, maintain supply chain efficiency, and adapt quickly to market changes. Hedging services highlight a strategic shift among local businesses toward proactive risk management. These solutions allowed companies to protect themselves from FX fluctuations, plan costs and revenues with greater precision, secure stability in long-term contracts, and focus on sustainable growth. This dual approach empowered Romanian businesses to remain competitive, resilient, and ready to capitalize on opportunities in a challenging global market. In 2024, iBanFirst Romania onboarded nearly 300 new business clients, increasing its total client portfolio by 47% to over 500 SMEs. These new partnerships generated €2.18 million in annual recurring revenue, underscoring the rising demand for digital financial services in Romania’s international trade sector. Last year, iBanFirst Group generated €65 million in revenue, representing a 30% increase from the previous year. In 2025, the fintech plans to expand its operations by opening offices in two new countries.
The 16th edition of Les Films de Cannes, the festival showcasing productions awarded or selected at the Cannes film festival, returns this fall to Bucharest and four other cities in the country. The winner of this year's Palme d'Or, Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident, will be screened at the event, as will be […]
Răsvan Angheluţă Natural Sciences Museum in Galaţi is scheduled to reopen on September 20, after the completion of modernization works worth over 15.1 million lei (approximately EUR 3 million) carried out by the County Council through the recovery and resilience facility PNRR. The building hosts an Aquarium, an Astronomical Observatory, a Planetarium, and temporary exhibitions. […]
A team of Romanian paramedics won first place at the World Rescue Challenge 2025, a competition that sees first responders and trauma teams from around the world develop new skills and share knowledge. This year, the competition took place in Karlovac, Croatia, and was attended by two Romanian paramedics from Bucharest who have been working […]
Artmark, one of Romania’s leading auction houses, registered record sales of over EUR 15 million despite economic instability, showing the growth potential of the national art market, according to the company’s 2024-2025 market report. Overall, auction sales totaled EUR 11 million, up 8.2% compared to the previous year, while sales through the “Dependent de Artă” […]
Cybersecurity has become a major global priority, impacting individual users, companies, organizations, and public institutions. Social engineering, deepfakes, digital manipulation, and coordinated geopolitical attacks are fundamentally reshaping how we view the digital future. In this context, DefCamp, the largest cybersecurity and hacking conference in Central and Eastern Europe, reaffirms its role as a strategic hub […]
Romanian airline AnimaWings has received its fifth Airbus aircraft, an A220-300, as part of an ambitious expansion plan to build a fleet of 18 planes by the end of 2027, valued at over USD 1 billion. The A220-300 is the airline’s third of this type and will serve both domestic and international routes. Configured with […]
