Eight in ten Romanians say financial education should be taught in schools, according to an ING Consumer Research study published on Monday.
According to the survey, Romanians feel the pressure of economic changes but see financial education as a practical support for making better decisions and leading a more balanced life.
At the same time, 71% say their financial health significantly influences their overall well-being. The issue of financial education is therefore becoming increasingly relevant in a context where more and more Romanians say they need clear guidance and practical tools to make better everyday decisions.
The data show that, for many Romanians, money is no longer just about calculations and spending, but also about peace of mind, confidence, and the ability to look to the future with greater clarity. In a context where 73% of Romanians expect food prices to rise more rapidly over the next 12 months and 68% believe unemployment will increase over the same period, financial education is increasingly seen as a life skill.
'In an economic context that makes people more attentive to their finances, financial education is no longer just useful information, but a necessity. It is practical support that gives you confidence, control and the freedom to make your own decisions. We see a real need for simple explanations and easy-to-use solutions that help people take control of their money and have greater confidence in their financial choices, without fear of being judged by others,' said Diana Mihai, Marketing, Communication and Brand Experience Director at ING Bank Romania, as quoted in the study presentation.
Furthermore, 86% of Romanians rate their financial knowledge as average or above average. At the same time, only 11% answered correctly at least four out of five basic questions included in the study. In addition, 53% of households have savings, indicating that building a financial safety net remains a challenge for a significant share of the population.
Alongside cost pressures and economic uncertainty, the study shows that 62% of Romanians say the current environment makes them anxious about investing. This result suggests a need for clearer guidance, accessible information and financial discussions that are more closely aligned with everyday realities.
The international survey was conducted by Ipsos for ING through online questionnaires applied to nationally representative samples in six countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Romania and Poland. The interviews were carried out in December 2025. In Romania, the research was conducted on a sample of 1,000 respondents.
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