The Bank of Albania has officially joined EACHA – the European Automated Clearing House Association, marking another important step towards European approximation and integration in the field of payments.

This membership was unanimously approved during the plenary meeting of EACHA on May 15, under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Board Jose Luis Langa, and the Secretary-General Steven Brown, where the Bank of Albania was represented by Ledia Bregu, Director of the Payment Systems, Accounting and Finance Department, and Marsida Ganaj, Head of the Payment Systems Sector.

EACHA is a cooperation forum for European Automated Clearing Houses (ACH), fostering technical cooperation and promoting interoperability between national payment systems. Now, together with Albania and Ukraine, EACHA counts 28 member institutions from 26 countries and plays a key role in shaping the future of retail payments in Europe. This association believes in and supports the development of a common European vision for the future and the harmonized implementation of European payment policies and schemes, including interoperability based on open standards.

The Bank of Albania’s involvement in EACHA is in line with the country’s broader efforts to integrate into the European financial landscape. In particular, Albania’s recent membership in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) is expected to enable faster and cheaper transactions, increasing the efficiency and affordability of cross-border payments in Euro for Albanian citizens and businesses.

EACHA membership will enable BoA to align its clearing and settlement systems with European standards, promoting efficient domestic and cross-border transactions.

EACHA participation provides access to a broad network of market-leading European ACHs, as well as the presence of key European institutions such as the EPC and the ECB, fostering the exchange of best practices and the joint development of innovative payment solutions.

This membership supports Albania’s strategic objectives for EU integration, practically aligning its financial infrastructure with European directives and regulations. EACHA, lobbying in Europe on behalf of its members, aims to be a forum for exchanging information and discussing issues of common interest. This association provides opportunities for networking between European ACHs and develops common guidelines to facilitate interoperability for the clearing and settlement of SEPA payments.

The EACHA believes firmly in developing a common vision for the future, and favoring harmonious implementation of European policies and schemes including interoperability based on open standards.

EACHA's Mission Statement is to lobby on behalf of members and foster a collaborative community in Europe focused on account-to-account payments. Facilitate the exchange of information, encourage discussion of common interests, work on specific issues such as common standards for SEPA interoperability, and provide effective and efficient services to customers. Help shape a dynamic, sustainable, inclusive, and robust environment for national and cross-border payments that meets the current and future needs of end users, whether consumers or organizations.