Banca Transilvania review 2026: how Romania's largest

Banca Transilvania review 2026: how Romania's largest local-capital bank looks now

Quick verdict

• BT is listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange under TLV.
• J12/4155/1993 is its Trade Register number; RB-PJR-12-019 identifies its bank registration.
• Compare APR and total repayment for the same product and assumptions.

Ownership and backstory

Banca Transilvania was founded in Cluj-Napoca in December 1993 by a group of local investors with modest initial capital.

The listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange in October 1997 marked the transition to the current model of a diversified bank without a majority shareholder.

OTP Bank Romania became part of Banca Transilvania through the merger on 28 February 2025. For an existing OTP contract, check the migration documents and the conditions communicated by BT. Official OTP merger announcement.

Current product range

BT publishes a limit of up to RON 250,000 for its standard personal loan. The approved amount depends on the bank assessment. Mortgage and card conditions must be checked separately in the product documents. Official BT loan conditions.

Interest rates and APR in 2026

Compare the monthly instalment, APR and total repayment from the same representative example. The nominal rate alone does not describe the full cost. Use the official BT calculator and documents for the requested amount and term.

On the BT mortgage, the rate differs by currency, by fixed-rate period and by whether the salary lands in an account at the bank. Exact levels, APR and total cost appear in the representative examples published by the bank and change during the year. We used them as a reference point and suggest rereading them on the application date.

Alternatives to Banca Transilvania for 2026

Compare BT with BCR, ING and Garanti BBVA for the same amount, term and income situation. An APR from another product or period does not automatically establish which bank is cheaper.

• What APR is and how it is calculated
• Mortgage guide 2026
• When refinancing makes sense

Access to BT locations

At 31 December 2025, Banca Transilvania reported 531 operational units, excluding its head office and Bucharest Regional Centre. The figure describes the network at that date, not the availability of every service at an individual location.

Before visiting, check the opening hours and services at your chosen location. Official BT 2025 report, page 16.

Sources for checking the conditions

Editorial review: 2026-09-14. Official BT loan conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Is BT a Romanian-owned bank in 2026?

Not entirely. Banca Transilvania is listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange under TLV, with dispersed shareholding and no single majority shareholder. The split between Romanian and foreign capital differs from one report to the next, so we read it from the current report published by the bank.

What is the difference between BT24 and BT Pay?

BT24 is the main banking app with transfers and bills. BT Pay is a digital wallet with Apple Pay, Google Pay and split bills.

How hard is it to get a BT mortgage loan?

BT grants its mortgage loan in lei and in euro, for purchase, construction, completion or refinancing. Minimum income, down payment and term are set when the file is analysed, not by a single public threshold. Current costs appear in the representative examples published by the bank, the reference to check before signing.