The payment system in Northern Macedonia is entering a new phase with international standard implementation ISO 20022, with all known PP 30 and PP 50 payment forms replaced by new forms. For citizens and businesses, this does not mean changing money or ownership of bank accounts, but a new way of meeting the ordinance: mandatory format I BAN with 19 characters, new four-sect codes for payments and more structured regulations in e-banking services and banking furniture.
The main difference in daily transactions is the new bank account format in denars, IBAN. The current 15-siff account must now be entered in full format, with the MK07 prefixing, reaching a total of 19 characters.
The client’s own account does not change, but it is equipped with the international state code and two control figures. These figures serve as a security filter in electronic systems: If the user errs even a number during completion, the app, or banking system immediately blocks payment processing before the money is sent to the wrong account.
The old numeric codes, such as 100 for purchase, 200 for services, 310 for salaries and series 500 for budgetary obligations, are replaced by four-sided ISO international codes.
The SALA code will be used for wage pay, for municipal utility bills such as electricity, water and the internet, code U ndo TIL, while for tax and administrative taxes, code TAXS. Payments for goods and services will be recorded with GDDS codes, SCVEs, rents with RENT respectively, while security officers with INSU.
In mobile and e-banking applications, users will usually not need to memorize these shortcuts. Banks are integrating them into relevant menus, in Macedonian language, where each type of fee is clearly explained.
Saved beneficiary accounts on bank applications have been automatically converted into IBAN format. However, users may note changes in some of the templates previously created for regular monthly payments.
In the warrants where old three-way codes don’t have a direct line on the new system, the app in the first payment requires the user to select the new code via manual and to keep the bill again.
Even areas for the number of reference and payment model are now more strictly standardised in order to avoid incomplete completion of bills from public companies and telecommunications operators.
For citizens still paying directly in bank or mail sports, change also brings new forms:
The KTD formula (transfer credit to denars) replaces PP 30 for payments between citizens and companies.
The KTB formula (BTR Credit Transfer for Budget Users) replaces PP 50 for paying taxes, fines and taxes to the state.
The VG formula (depositation of cash) replaces PP 10, while the PG (PG withdrawal of cash) replaces PP 40.
For companies, form Z KT (Scaping credit transfer) replaces PP 53 for salary payments.
This technical harmonisation of the local payment system presents a direct preparation of the banking sector for the country’s membership in the SEPA system, which is expected to enable faster and cheaper cross-border payments with European countries.
