# XK — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **CBK QR Code Standard** approved by Central Bank of Kosovo
- **EPC QR format** adopted for payment transfers
- **SEPA/TIPS access** planned in Strategic Plan 2024-2028
- **Raiffeisen** dominates with ~21.6% market share
- **Cross-border instant payments** agreement signed January 2025

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK/BQK)
- **Website:** https://bqk-kos.org/
- **Role:** Banking supervision, payment systems, QR standardization

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Market Share (Assets) | Owner |
|------|-----------|----------------------|-------|
| 1 | Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo | ~21.6% | Raiffeisen (Austria) |
| 2 | NLB Banka | ~17% | NLB (Slovenia) |
| 3 | ProCredit Bank | ~16% | ProCredit (Germany) |
| 4 | BKT Kosovo | ~14.5% | BKT (Albania) |
| 5 | TEB Bank | ~13% | BNP Paribas/Çolakoğlu |

### Market Structure
- **Foreign Dominance:** All major banks foreign-owned
- **EUR Usage:** Uses Euro unilaterally (not Eurozone)
- **Stable Sector:** No banking crises
- **Digital Focus:** Strong mobile banking growth

### Bank Ownership Details
- Raiffeisen: 100% Austrian
- ProCredit: 100% German
- BKT: 100% Albanian (BKT Albania)
- TEB: BNP Paribas + Turkish Çolakoğlu

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| CBK Payment System | CBK | Interbank | Active |
| Card Networks | Visa, Mastercard | Card | Active |
| Google Pay | ProCredit (first) | Mobile NFC | June 2024 |

### National Payments Council
- Re-established January 2024
- Supports payment reforms
- Stakeholder cooperation platform
- Modern payments focus

### SEPA/TIPS Goals (Strategic Plan 2024-2028)
- Legal and technical infrastructure for SEPA
- Access to EU Instant Payments (TIPS)
- 24/7 instant payments development
- National QR Code standardization
- API standardization for interoperability

---

## QR code standards

### CBK QR Code Standard (National)

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Authority** | Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) |
| **Standard** | EPC QR Code (European Payments Council) |
| **Status** | Approved instruction |
| **Purpose** | Payment transfers via smartphones |

### CBK Instruction on QR Code Standard

The Central Bank of Kosovo approved an Instruction on QR Code Standard to be used for payments in Kosovo. Key objectives:

1. **Efficient QR usage** across different systems and platforms
2. **Reduce fragmentation** in QR code implementations
3. **Promote digital device** and smartphone payments
4. **Ensure stable, secure** interaction between providers and consumers

### EPC Standard Adoption
- Kosovo adopted the EPC-defined QR Code standard
- Same format used in EU for payment transfers
- Smartphone-initiated payments
- Interoperability with European systems

### Cross-Border Instant Payments (January 2025)

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Signed** | January 10, 2025 (Rome) |
| **Parties** | Albania, BiH, Kosovo, N. Macedonia, Montenegro |
| **Timeline** | 18 months |
| **Features** | QR codes, instant transfers |

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App Name | Bank | Mobile Banking | QR | NFC |
|----------|------|----------------|-------|-----|
| Raiffeisen Mobile | Raiffeisen | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| ProCredit Mobile | ProCredit | Yes | Yes | Google Pay |
| NLB Klik | NLB | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| BKT Mobile | BKT | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| TEB Mobile | TEB | Yes | Yes | Limited |

### ProCredit Google Pay First (June 2024)
- First bank to offer Google Pay in Kosovo
- Mastercard integration
- June 25, 2024 launch
- Online and in-store payments

### Digital Banking Growth
- High smartphone penetration
- Growing mobile banking usage
- QR code awareness increasing
- CBK promoting digital payments

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [CBK QR Code](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK/cbk-qr-code) | Payment QR | EPC QR | Approved | [`cbk-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/cbk-qr) |
| [Cross-border IPS](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK/cross-border-ips) | Instant (planned) | QR Code | 2025-2026 | — |
| [Card Payments](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK/card-payments) | Cards | EMV | Dominant | — |

## Sources

- [CBK - QR Code Standard Instruction](https://bqk-kos.org/news/cbk-approves-the-instruction-on-qr-code-standard-to-be-used-for-payments-in-kosovo/?lang=en)
- [BIS - National Payments Council 2024](https://www.bis.org/review/r240410c.htm)
- [BIS - Western Balkans SEPA](https://www.bis.org/review/r240327d.htm)
- [World Bank - Western Balkans Payments](https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca/brief/advancing-the-modernization-and-integration-of-payment-systems-in-the-western-balkans)
- [ProCredit - Google Pay Launch](https://procreditbank-kos.com/eng/news/google-payt-now-available-in-kosovo-1683/)
- [Central Banking - West Balkan Instant Payments](https://www.centralbanking.com/central-banks/payments/7963622/west-balkan-central-banks-to-create-instant-payments-system)
- [Monitor Magazine - Kosovo Banking Market](https://monitor.al/en/kosova-tregu-bankar-qe-nuk-njohu-krize-2/)
- [Wikipedia - List of Banks in Kosovo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banks_in_Kosovo)
- [EPC - QR Code Standardisation](https://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/sites/default/files/kb/file/2024-06/EPC024-22v2.10%20Standardisation%20of%20QR-codes%20for%20MSCTs.pdf)
- [Fitch - ProCredit Kosovo Rating](https://www.fitchratings.com/research/banks/procredit-bank-sha-kosovo-ratings-navigator-22-05-2024)

## Full country report

[XK-kosovo.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/XK)