The value of cash outside the banking system increased last year by 14.2% to nearly RON 131.43 billion, with the growth rate exceeding that recorded in 2023 by 5.5 percentage points, according to the 2024 annual report published Monday by the National Bank of Romania (BNR).
"In 2024, cash outside the banking system maintained a series of seasonal patterns. Thus, annual seasonal factors played an important role in the evolution of this indicator, with high monthly growth rates recorded in the following periods: April (4.2 percent), influenced by the Easter holidays; November (1.6 percent) and December (2.7 percent), due to high demand for cash specific to the winter holiday season; June (1.6 percent) and August (1.5 percent), influenced by vacation travel. In the remaining months, the value of cash
outside the banking system recorded smaller increases (0.9 percent in July and September, 0.7 percent in February, 0.6 percent in March and October) or even decreased (-1.6 percent in May and -0.2 percent in January)," the report states.
The maximum value of cash outside the banking system in 2024, namely RON 134.553 billion (+14.7% compared to the peak in 2023), was reached on December 20, 2024, amid high demand for cash specific to the winter holiday season.
At the end of 2024, there were almost 1.94 billion banknotes outside the banking system, up 13.3% compared to the end of 2023, and 5.873 billion coins, up 3.9% compared to the end of 2023. The value of banknotes outside the banking system at the end of 2024 was 14.3% higher than the previous year, and the value of coins was 5.8% higher.
Increases in the number of banknotes outside the banking system were recorded for all denominations: RON 1 (+16.1%), RON 5 (+5.4%), RON 10 (+5.4%), RON 50 (+11.1%), RON 100 (+8.8%), RON 200 (+20.4%) and RON 500 (+12.3%).
For the RON 20 denomination, which was put into circulation on December 1, 2021, the number of banknotes outside the banking system at the end of 2024 was 188.4% higher than at the end of the previous year.
According to the cited source, the RON 100 denomination was the most widely used, accounting for 25.9% of the total number of banknotes outside the banking system, followed by the RON 1 (24.9%) and RON 200 (14%) denominations. The smallest share in the total number of banknotes outside the banking system was held by the RON 500 denomination (0.9%).
"Given the timing of the launch of the new RON 20 banknote, its share in the total number of banknotes outside the banking system at the end of 2024 was 2.1%," the report also shows.
Banknotes used predominantly to supply ATMs continued to dominate the total value of banknotes outside the banking system: the 200 lei denomination accounted for 41.5%, followed by the RON 100 denomination (38.4%) and the RON 50 denomination (9.9%).
The number of coins increased compared to 2023 for all denominations, with percentages ranging from 1.8% for the 1 ban coin to 7.5% for the 50-bani coin. The largest shares in the total number of coins outside the banking system were held by the 10-bani coin (42.7%) and the 5-bani coin (25.9%).
In terms of value, 50-bani and 10-bani coins accounted for 88.8% of the value of coins outside the banking system, with the 50-bani coin accounting for the largest share (56.3%).
In 2024, each inhabitant had 102 banknotes and 308 coins outside the banking system, 12 banknotes and 11 coins more than at the end of 2023.
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