Commission for domestic and international payments

In the direction of promoting and presenting the Macedonian Banking Association (MBA) to the public, in the following months, we will present the commissions that function as permanent working bodies within the MBA and their leaders.

COMMISSION FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS

The Chairperson of the Commission for Domestic and International Payments is Ms. Blagica Zdravkovska M.Sc., Head of the Payment Systems Department at UNI BANK AD Skopje, and the Deputy Chairperson is Mr. Goran Kupenkov, Ph.D. Chief Coordinator in the Payment Services, and International Trade Instruments Sector at KOMERCIJALNA BANKA AD Skopje.

The Commission has been operating within the framework of the MACEDONIAN BANKING ASSOCIATION since its establishment, with the aim of taking activities towards efficient realization, improvement, and protection of the interests of the members in the field of domestic and international payments.

The scope of the Commission includes activities, goals, and tasks that consist of the following:

• Promoting cooperation between MBA members and relevant authorities and institutions in the field of payments in the country and abroad;
• Initiating proposals to competent authorities and institutions for the adoption of regulations and other acts related to payment systems, and, if necessary, initiating proposals for amendments and supplements to existing laws and regulations;
• Defining and proposing common procedures in payment transactions with the aim of implementing the legal provisions uniformly by MBA members;
• Identifying open issues and problems arising during domestic and international payment transactions and proposing solutions for their resolution.

In the past year, with the adoption of the new Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems, changes have intensified towards aligning domestic legislation with European directives to achieve compatibility between domestic and payment systems of EU member countries. This has prompted intense collaboration among all members of the Commission to ensure proper implementation of the regulations. Given the Commission’s activities and the rapid changes in the field of payments, the Commission collaborates intensively and successfully with other commissions at the MBA, as well as with the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank as regulators.

Ms. Blagica Zdravkovska M.Sc. is the Head of the Payment Systems Department at UNI BANK AD Skopje. With her 30 years of experience, she has spent 22 years in managerial positions related to domestic and international payment transactions. She holds a master’s degree in economics, with a defended master’s thesis entitled “Effects of Implementing the SEPA Project on the Payment Infrastructure in the Republic of North Macedonia.”

She possesses a Certificate for International Fixed Interest, Bond Markets, and Equity Markets, as well as a Certificate for Dealing in Securities in the Republic of North Macedonia.

She is the Chairperson of the Management Board of Macedonian Credit Bureau AD Skopje and a member of the National Council for Payment Systems of the Republic of North Macedonia.

She was appointed as the Chairperson of the Commission for Domestic and International Payments in 2023. Previously, she held the position of Deputy Chairperson of the same commission. Considering her contribution to the implementation of numerous activities and initiatives within the Commission, she has received acknowledgments for her work in 2018 and 2022.

Mr. Goran Kupenkov Ph.D is Chief coordinator in the Payment Operations and International Trade Finance Division in Komercijalna Banka AD Skopje. His primary focus is business development, improvement of business processes as well as development projects for digitalization of bank products and services and improvement of customer experience.

As experienced professional with over 20 years  experience in the International transaction banking and Export trade finance, Kupenkov contributes with his extensive expertise in the Committee for domestic and international payment operations in his role as a Deputy Chairman.

Kupenkov holds a PhD. degree in Monetary economics, professional certificates from international institutions as EBRD and ICC and he is licensed Pension agent and Investment Counselor.