Is OTP Bank Romania merging with Banca Transilvania in 2026?

In December 2025 an acquisition offer from Banca Transilvania was announced, but as of May 2026 NBR and Competition Council approvals were pending. OTP operations continue normally under the existing brand.

Does OTP Bank offer services in Hungarian?

Yes, in Transylvania branches (Cluj, Oradea, Târgu Mureș, Sfântu Gheorghe) staff speak Hungarian for local clients. National call center has a dedicated Hungarian-language operator from 8 to 20 daily.

What is the minimum APR at OTP for personal loans?

Minimum APR published in May 2026 was 9.67% for clients with salary credited at OTP and income above 8,200 lei. Standard profile sees 12.18% to 14.93%.

Is OTP strong on mortgage loans?

Yes, mortgage is OTP's flagship product in Romania, with an estimated 7.3% market share of new loans in 2024. 5-year fixed rate between 5.93% and 6.47% is competitive for premium profiles.

OTP Bank Romania reviews 2026: what the Hungarian subsidiary

OTP Bank Romania drew more public attention than usual in December 2025, when Banca Transilvania officially announced its intent to take over the Romanian subsidiary of the Hungarian OTP group.

At the writing of this article, in May 2026, approvals from the BNR and the Competition Council were still in progress, and OTP continued normal operation under its own brand.

For current and potential clients, the practical question is not whether the bank disappears, but what this transition means for signed contracts and new loan applications.

Quick answer

• OTP Bank Romania S.A., registration J40/10398/2004, ranks sixth in the country by assets, with roughly 38 billion lei at 31 December 2024
• Net profit 2024: 487 million lei
• Limited physical network, 98 branches, concentrated in large cities and Transylvania
• Majority shareholder: OTP Bank Nyrt., Hungarian group listed on the Budapest stock exchange
• Lowest published APR in May 2026 for personal loans: 9.67%
• Merger with BT announced in December 2025, approvals pending

History and legal status

OTP Bank Romania is the successor of Banca RoBank, acquired by OTP Bank Nyrt. in 2004. The Hungarian group gradually integrated operations and fully rebranded activity as OTP Bank Romania by 2007. Share capital recorded in the BNR register at our check was 1,738 million lei, with OTP Bank Nyrt. holding 100% of shares.

The Banca Transilvania announcement of 18 December 2025 confirmed the offer to fully take over OTP Romania operations, for a publicly announced value of 1.93 billion euros. The transaction is conditional on BNR and Competition Council approval. On 22 April 2026 the Competition Council announced the opening of the second investigation phase, extending the timeline by at least 4 months. Until completion, OTP remains an independent legal entity with its own rights and obligations.

Main products today

Personal loans: amounts between 2,500 lei and 153,000 lei, terms from 12 to 60 months. Standard documentation requires a 3-month income certificate, ID copy and bank statements. Clients with salary credited at OTP skip the certificate, as the bank checks internally.

Mortgage loan: OTP's flagship product in Romania, with financing up to 85% of property value and maximum term 30 years. Fixed rate for the first 5 years between 5.93% and 6.47% in June 2026, competitive for profiles with income above 9,800 lei. Estimated market share on new mortgages in 2024: 7.3%.

Loan refinancing: OTP announced in March 2026 a campaign to take over loans from other banks with a 0.38 percentage point APR cut for contracts older than 24 months, conditional on at least 12 months of salary tenure with the current employer.

Multilingual services: in branches in Cluj, Oradea, Târgu Mureș and Sfântu Gheorghe, staff speak Hungarian for local clients. The national call center operates with dedicated Hungarian-language support from 8 to 20.

Rates and APR in 2026

For a personal loan of 47,500 lei over 48 months, the OTP Online simulator on 13 May 2026 showed a nominal rate of 8.12% and an APR of 9.67% for the ideal profile: salary above 8,200 lei credited at OTP, over 24 months at the same employer, no delays in the Credit Bureau over the last 4 years.

For the average profile without a prior banking relationship, the same loan reached an APR of 12.18%. For clients with income from several sources (salary plus sole-trader), the APR climbed to 14.93%, in the upper range for mid-size commercial banks.

On mortgage, the 5-year fixed rate of 5.93% to 6.47% sits in the upper half of the June 2026 ranking, comparable to BCR and BT on similar profiles. For clients without prior relationship with the bank, the offer remains competitive thanks to OTP's specific mortgage track record.

Alternatives to OTP for 2026

Banca Transilvania, the announced future buyer, offers comparable APR on mortgage and a better-rated mobile app. For clients anticipating the transition, opening a relationship with BT can simplify later integration. BCR Erste Group for clients who want the widest physical network in urban areas, with comparable APR on premium profiles. Raiffeisen Bank as a mortgage alternative, with the well-structured Casa Mea product and the stable Smart Mobile app.

For an existing loan at OTP, see our refinancing guide before making rushed decisions during the transition.

Conclusion, as a financial journalist

OTP Bank Romania is a solid bank on the mortgage segment, with a competitive product and a specialized team. For Hungarian-speaking clients in Transylvania, the linguistic benefit remains tangible. The merger announcement with BT from December 2025 does not change existing contractual rights, but adds a layer of uncertainty for new banking relationships. Practical recommendation: if you are taking a first mortgage in 2026, request a parallel offer from BT and BCR and compare total APR over 30 years, not just the rate of the first 5. For an existing OTP client, there is no reason to rush a decision until the merger gets green light from BNR and Competition Council.

• What APR means and how it is calculated
• Mortgage guide 2026
• When refinancing is worth it

OTP Bank Romania reviews 2026: what the Hungarian subsidiary still offers before the BT merger