Romanian banks contest Competition Council's preliminary ROBOR report

Business Forum
Several of Romania's largest financial institutions have issued official statements to the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) following the receipt of a preliminary report from the Competition Council.   

The investigation, which began in October 2022, concerns an alleged agreement or concerted practice among 10 banks to coordinate the setting of the ROBOR reference rate during "fixing" procedures.

Banca Transilvania (BT), BCR, BRD, Raiffeisen Bank, CEC Bank, Libra Internet Bank, and UniCredit Bank confirmed they received the documentation on 6 and 7 April 2026. The banks emphasised that the report is an intermediate procedural step and does not constitute a final legal decision or a confirmed sanction.

The institutions have collectively maintained that their market conduct has remained fully compliant with national and European regulations. According to the BVB filings, the banks now have the opportunity to submit observations and solid arguments before a final hearing.

The Competition Council's final decision could involve rejecting the report, returning it for completion, or imposing individualised sanctions. Any potential fine can be appealed at the Bucharest Court of Appeal within 30 days of issuance.

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