Seven in ten Romanians talk about money and plan their budget monthly, according to the second wave of a national survey of financial literacy, conducted by Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) in partnership with BrandBerry, compared with the first wave in 2023, in which three in four Romanians said they were little or not at all financially prepared.

According to BCR, while in 2023 three in four Romanians said they were little or not at all financially ready, the 2025 edition shows that the mentality is starting to change: Romanians not only talk more openly about money, but they also turn planning into a routine and seek professional guidance before making important decisions.

'Self-confidence is strengthened by knowledge. People want to understand, plan and make informed decisions. And when we talk about money, financial education is at the centre of this process. When you understand the mechanisms of money - from budgeting to investments, from emergency funds to retirement - you gain not only control, but also the confidence that you can build for yourself and your family. BCR's mission is to be with Romanians on this journey, whatever the point they start from: online, through George and the Money School, in our offices across the country, under the national LifeLab programme or, here, even from the benches of the city of Destiny, where children make their first budget with Magic Money. Because financial literacy does not start in adulthood, but from childhood - where self-confidence is formed,' according to Nicoleta Deliu-Pasol, head of Communication & CSR, BCR.

In wave 1, the survey showed a Romania stuck in 'silence about money,' with 75% of respondents declaring themselves financially unprepared. Wave 2, published on Thursday, captures the first real movements: more frequent discussions, interest in long-term plans and a clear appetite for professional guidance. But the development is not uniform, and gaps are still visible.

'In just two years, financial anxiety gives way to dialogue and action. More and more Romanians talk about money in their family, seek professional support and build a minimum reserve of safety. In 2023, many admitted that they didn't know where to start. In 2025, we see that they start. Not all at the same pace, not all with the same resources - but the important thing is that they have taken the first step. However, figures also show us where we remain vulnerable. Almost 60% of Romanians save very small amounts, less than 10% of their income, and investment continues to be perceived as foreign land: only one in ten owns shares. It is clear that the gap will not close without intervention - and financial education must be that intervention, done on time, where it is needed. At school, in communities, in the family, and also in seemingly playful places, such as Destiny Park. Because when you understand the value of money from an early age, you have the chance to become an adult who not only survives financially, but builds,' says Romulus Oprica, sociologist and founder of BrandBerry.

Specifically, the new survey shows that seven in ten Romanians discuss the budget on a monthly basis, and over half constantly talk about financial independence. Saving for major purchases rises by 11.7% from 2023, and pension becomes a recurring topic in the family (+10.2%). Although only 15% of respondents have taken a financial education course, the risk of fraud is halved among them, and two-thirds are already changing their behaviour: they budget more rigorously, save regularly and build up emergency funds. Confidence in commercial banks increases to 55.3%, and their labelling as 'risky' drops to 4%.

However, 41% of Romanians still prefer human interaction for complex financial decisions. The study shows that financial resilience is increasing slightly, but a paradox persists: 59% say they can set aside at most 10% of their income, and banking is almost universal (88.1% have a current account). The appetite for investments remains in a low area - only 12.3% own stocks and 8.9% cryptocurrencies - and the lack of capital and applied knowledge keeps most away from essential opportunities.

The 'Financial Literacy Report 2025' was conducted by the Brasov 2050 and Impact 2050 Association, in partnership with BrandBerry, on a representative sample of 1,244 digitally connected adults (margin of error of ±2.8%). The results reflect the behavioural and attitudinal trends of the urban population in Romania in 2025.

Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) is a member of Erste Group. BCR offers a complete range of financial products and services in a network of 20 business centres and 18 mobile offices dedicated to companies and 298 retail offices located in most cities in the country with over 10,000 inhabitants, of which 71% are offices where cash operations are carried out only on equipment (cashless). AGERPRES (RO - editing by: George Banciulea; EN - writing by Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)