

Payment Operations
International payment operations
International payment operations
General Information
Cross-border payment services are a vital component of international payment operations and are essential for trade, finance, and personal transactions.
They enable fast, secure, and efficient transfers of funds between individuals and businesses across different countries.
In the Republic of North Macedonia, these services are regulated by the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia (NBRNM), which sets the legal framework for foreign exchange operations, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, and payment system security.
Stopanska Banka AD – Skopje operates in full compliance with NBRNM regulations and applies internationally recognized SEPA and SWIFT standards.
Methods of Executing Transactions:
- SEPA Transactions – For euro payments to countries participating in the SEPA scheme
- SWIFT Transactions – For payments in euros and in currencies other than the euro
SEPA Credit Transfer Features
- Executed exclusively in euro, available only to SEPA scheme member countries and banks registered for SEPA credit transfers
- Transfers are processed with the SHA (shared cost) option only
- Significantly lower fees compared to other methods
SWIFT Credit Transfer Features
- Executed in euro or other foreign currencies
- Offers flexible cost options: SHA, OUR, or BEN
Clients may choose whether to execute an international payment as a SEPA credit transfer or a SWIFT credit transfer based on the destination, currency, and cost preferences.
The regulations for SEPA credit transfers fall under the same legal framework governing payment services and foreign exchange operations as standard SWIFT credit transfers abroad executed via correspondent banking.
Tips for Secure Cross-Border Transactions:
- Use only licensed and trusted financial institutions
- Protect your personal and account information
- Verify the legitimacy of your business partner’s payment account
Incoming payment transactions
- The recipient of the funds must hold a foreign currency payment account in the currency of the incoming funds.
- Incoming payments are processed efficiently, on the same day the value date occurs.
- The Bank informs the client – the recipient of the funds – on the value date or, at the latest, the following business day.
- Funds may be allocated through any branch of the Bank, as well as via electronic banking.
In accordance with the Decision on the Manner of Conducting Payment Transactions with Abroad, the following procedures apply for incoming cross-border payments:
- Funds are directly credited to the recipient’s payment account without the need to submit supporting documentation.
- Funds are credited to the resident’s payment account after submitting the appropriate documentation for the following types of transactions:
- Collection of dividends and other returns from a resident’s investment abroad treated as a direct investment
- Withdrawal of an investment from abroad treated as a direct investment
- Sale of securities or shares abroad treated as a direct investment
- Collection from the issuance and listing of domestic securities abroad
- Collection from the sale of real estate abroad owned by a resident
- Collection from the rental of real estate abroad owned by a resident
- Transfer of funds from a resident’s payment account abroad to their payment account at a domestic payment service provider
- Sale of foreign securities treated as portfolio investments
- Collection of amounts equal to or exceeding EUR 100,000
Incoming Payment Transactions are processed via:
- SEPA Scheme
For euro-denominated inflows from countries that are part of the SEPA scheme. These payments are always in euros and executed with BEN charges (shared costs).
- SWIFT Network
For inflows in euros and in currencies other than euro.
Fees
SEPA Scheme
- Up to EUR 500 – EUR 5
- EUR 500.01 – EUR 12,500 – EUR 8
- EUR 12,500.01 – EUR 50,000 – EUR 12
- Above EUR 50,000.01 – EUR 20
SWIFT Network
- Up to EUR 50 – Free of charge
- 0.10%, minimum EUR 5 + EUR 2 processing fee
Outgoing Payment Transactions
- The payer must hold a foreign currency payment account in the currency of the transaction.
- The client must submit valid payment documents to the Bank, in accordance with the regulations governing foreign payment transactions.
- The payment transaction is executed on the same day the payment order is received, with a value date on the following business day, in line with the Bank’s order processing schedule.
- Fast and efficient processing of outgoing international payments is available at all Bank branches or through the E-banking service.
- Thanks to the Bank’s extensive network of SWIFT correspondents worldwide, clients can avoid additional intermediary fees.
- Payment of dividends and other returns from investments considered direct investments by non-residents in the Republic of North Macedonia
- Payment based on the sale of an investment classified as a direct investment
- Transfer of remaining funds from a liquidation estate
- Payment based on investment in foreign securities by residents (portfolio investments)
- Payment for the purchase of real estate in North Macedonia owned by non-residents
- Payment of income from the rental of real estate owned by non-residents
- Transfer of funds from a resident’s account with a domestic payment service provider to their account abroad
- Capital transactions based on enforceable documents or enforced payment based on such documents
- Payments in amounts equal to or exceeding EUR 100,000
- SEPA Scheme
- SWIFT Network
- SHA – Shared costs (each party covers their own bank’s fees)
- OUR – All costs borne by the sender
- BEN – All costs borne by the beneficiary
Fees
- Credit Transfer in Branches
- Up to EUR 12,500 – EUR 10
- Above EUR 12,500 – EUR 20
- Electronic Credit Transfer - EUR 10
- Up to EUR 50 No fee (SWIFT MKD 350 only)
- EUR 50.01 – EUR 50,000 0.27%, minimum EUR 4 + SWIFT MKD 350
- EUR 50,000.01 – 100,000 0.25% + SWIFT MKD 350
- EUR 100,000.01 – 500,000 0.20% + SWIFT MKD 350
- Over EUR 500,000.01 0.17% + SWIFT MKD 350
- Up to EUR 2,500 EUR 10
- EUR 2,500.01 – 12,500 EUR 20
- EUR 12,500.01 – 50,000 EUR 40
- Over EUR 50,000.01 EUR 50
Other remittances and payments
Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) and remittances
- Ability to execute conditional remittances with the same amount of refund, exclusively through SB counterparts
- A commission of 0.37% of the remittance minimum MKD 1,100.00
Payments/transfers to customers in foreign banks
- Efficient payment/transfer of funds to more foreign banks due to open accounts in SB
- Fee of 0.10% of the amount of remittance minimum EUR 15.00 and
- up to EUR 50.00 no commission only swift costs
Checks drawn on foreign banks
- Fee of MKD 3,000 prepaid upon withdrawal of the check + 3.00% of check amount minimum MKD 1,000.00 per check upon check payment
Documents Collection (Documents Against Payment)
- Quality processing of import and export:
- Bill of Exchange
- Documents Against Payment
- Timely execution of the payments/collections against the documentary collections
Commission
- Advising of Documentary Collection at sight – 0.22% of the amount, minimum MKD 1200
- Advising of Documentary Collection with maturity– 0.30% of the amount, minimum MKD 1200
- Collection of Documentary Collection - 0.10% of the amount, minimum MKD 400
- Payment of Documentary Collection
- EUR 1 - 50.000 – 0.27%
- EUR 50.000,01 - 100.000 – 0.25%
- EUR 100.000,01 - 500.000 – 0.20%
- Over EUR 500.000,01 – 0.17%, minimum MKD 250
- Protest of Documentary Collection – 0.50% of the amount, minimum MKD 3.000, plus notary expenses
- Handling of documents without payment – MKD 1200
Payment schedule
Payment schedule for execution of payment transactions abroad in Stopanska banka AD Skopje
|
Accepting payment transactions |
Execution of payment transactions |
Paper based payment transactions |
Every working day from 8:30 until |
During the same day |
Electronic payment transactions |
Every working day from 8:00 until |
During the same day |
Paper based payment transactions |
Every working day after 14:00 |
During the next working day |
Electronic payment transactions |
Every working day after 15:00 and non-working days | During the next working day |
For further information, please contact