Moldova’s women own more bank cards than men and make more non-cash payments, but the volume of transactions made by women is lower than that of men – the NBM
Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM) disclosed this while speaking at the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality international event, held in Chisinau, which was attended by leaders of the financial sector, representatives of the business environment and international organizations. The event emphasized the importance of promoting diversity and inclusiveness in the economic sector. In her speech, Governor of the National Bank emphasized the need for sustainable policies that reduce the gender gap and ensure equal access to economic and professional opportunities. “Gender equality is a must because we need everyone's voice at the decision-making table and we need to be there because we have the necessary skills. I am convinced that this 'drive' starts at home. Never tell girls that they can't do a certain job! Any girl can do whatever she wants to do in life,” NBM Governor stated. Anca Dragu specified that the National Bank of Moldova promotes an inclusive and fair working environment: 64% of the institution's employees are women and 53% of the management positions are held by women. “We promote women, but we are consistent in respecting professional values. Competence and integrity are the criteria that determine the efficiency of work,” the head of the National Bank said. According to her, the NBM data reflect the active participation of women in the financial sector, but some discrepancies remain. According to statistics, women own more bank cards than men (1.9 million vs. 1.6 million) and make more non-cash payments (139,545,630 vs. 134,070,937). However, the amount of transactions made by women is lower than that of men (MDL 82,947,988,045 vs. MDL 85,846,407,403). “This may indicate that in some cases financial decisions are made by men. It also reflects the wage gap in Moldova, where women earn on average 16% less than men, and this gap is also felt in pensions,” Anca Dragu explained. An important aspect of financial inclusion is the prevention of economic violence. “Financial independence is essential to fight against economic violence, which unfortunately is still present. Everyone should have equal access to financial resources and economic opportunities,” emphasized Governor of the National Bank of Moldova. Ring the Bell for Gender Equality is a global initiative aimed at promoting gender equality in the financial and economic sector. // 11.03.2025 - InfoMarket
