At BCR and ING, according to the banks' websites in October 2026, a home with energy class A gets a 0.2 percentage point rate discount.
On a million lei over 25 years: 7.87% against 7.67% is about 131 lei a month, about 39,000 lei over the whole loan.
Under Law 372/2005, a building whose permit was issued from 31 December 2020 must meet the nZEB standard, nearly zero energy use.
At Raiffeisen, Casa Ta Verde also covers class B, provided the energy certificate was issued after 15.02.2023, or RoGBC certification.
ING requires class A or A+. "Built to nZEB" in a brochure is not a document; the seller must provide a copy of the certificate before the contract.
A green mortgage in Romania: the short answer
Yes, but the discount is modest. Several large Romanian banks offer a reduced rate for a home with an energy performance certificate (certificat de performanță energetică) rated A, or with a green certification from the Romania Green Building Council (RoGBC). At BCR and ING the discount is 0.2 percentage points, which on a loan of one million lei is worth about 120–130 lei a month. The big saving from an energy-efficient home is in the bills, not in the mortgage. Correct as of October 2026.
When investors hear "green mortgage", they sometimes imagine a completely different rate. I prefer to set expectations up front: it is a real discount, it is worth money, but it is not what will decide whether the deal is right for you.
What a "green mortgage" is in Romania
Romania has no single government scheme by that name. It is a general term for products from commercial banks that offer better terms for financing an energy-efficient home. Each bank decides for itself what counts as "green", how much discount it gives and on what conditions.
The two common criteria are: an energy performance certificate with a high rating, usually A, or RoGBC Green Homes certification.
What the banks offer in October 2026
| Bank and product | Who qualifies | The benefit | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCR, Casa Mea Natura | A RoGBC-certified home, or an energy-efficient home with a class A certificate | 0.2 percentage points: 4.79% fixed for three years, then IRCC + 2.1% | Customers with their salary at the bank or a high income, up to 85% financing and up to 30 years |
| ING, ING Ipotecar | A home with a class A or A+ certificate | 0.2 percentage points off the rate | Requires residence in Romania and income in lei |
| Raiffeisen, Casa Ta Verde | Class A and above, class B on a certificate issued after 15.02.2023, or RoGBC certification | A separate product: 3 years fixed from 4.70%, 5 years from 5.45%, then IRCC + 1.90% | €5,000–300,000 equivalent in lei, at least 15% down payment |
The baseline for comparison at BCR is the standard Casa Mea mortgage: 4.99% fixed for three years, then IRCC + 2.30%, according to the bank's website. At Raiffeisen, the 4.70% rate is for Premium customers, with an income of at least €2,000 a month or financial assets of €40,000.
What it is worth in money
Assume a loan of 1,000,000 lei over 25 years. At BCR, the difference between the standard and the green track:
| Period | Standard rate | Green rate | Monthly difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| The three fixed years | 4.99%: about 5,840 lei | 4.79%: about 5,724 lei | about 116 lei |
| Variable, IRCC at 5.57% | 7.87%: about 7,632 lei | 7.67%: about 7,501 lei | about 131 lei |
Our calculation, for illustration, before insurance. In the second line, the calculation is on the full amount over 25 years, to show the order of magnitude.
Over 25 years, a difference of about 131 lei a month adds up to about 39,000 lei. That is money. But a 0.2 percentage point discount does not turn a bad deal into a good one, and should not be the reason to choose a home. It is a bonus on a home you chose for other reasons.
nZEB and class A: not the same thing
There is a lot of confusion here. Under Law 372/2005 on the energy performance of buildings, a new building whose building permit was issued on or after 31 December 2020 must meet the nZEB standard, a nearly zero-energy building.
But the bank does not check the standard. It checks the certificate: the rating on it, and at some banks also the date of issue. So:
- "Built to nZEB" in a brochure is not a document. Ask for the energy performance certificate itself.
- Check the date of the building permit. A home whose permit predates the end of 2020 does not have to meet the standard, even if it is new.
- Make sure the rating fits the bank you chose. ING requires A or A+. At Raiffeisen, B may also be enough, provided the certificate was issued after 15.02.2023.
And the law helps you: under Law 372/2005, a seller must give the buyer a copy of the energy performance certificate before the contract is signed. What the certificate includes and how to read it, we explained in the article on an energy-efficient home.
A 0.2 percentage point discount does not turn a bad deal into a good one, and should not be the reason to choose a home.
A home under construction: when you get the discount
Most of the new villas Israelis buy are not yet finished on signing day. The final certificate is issued only after construction is complete, so it is worth asking the bank three questions:
- Can the green track be approved on the basis of the plans and an expected certificate, or only once the final certificate is in hand?
- If the discount comes only after handover, will it apply automatically or do you need to request it?
- What happens if the final rating comes out lower than expected?
And in the other direction, ask the developer in writing for the expected energy rating, and what they commit to in the contract. What else to check before signing, in the checklist before signing.
The big saving: the bills
The mortgage discount is about 120–130 lei a month on a million lei. A well-insulated home, with a heat pump and perhaps solar panels, affects heating and cooling costs every month, for as long as you live in the home, even after the mortgage ends.
And there is a third side too: an efficient home makes the valuation and a future sale easier, because buyers and banks are increasingly interested in the rating. I have no solid Romanian figure for what this is worth in price, so I do not give it a number. How a bank valuer assesses a property, in the article on bank valuations.
I will mention it once: in our own project in Balotești, too, the energy rating of each villa is worth checking on the certificate, and showing to the bank before you even apply.
Who a green mortgage suits, and who it suits less
It suits: people buying a new home with a class A certificate, who are financing with a bank that offers a green track anyway, and who meet its other conditions.
It is less relevant for: people buying in cash, people financing in Israel, or people whose bank does not offer a green track. For them, the rating matters because of the bills, not because of the mortgage.
And if you are also weighing the type of rate, read the article on fixed versus variable rates. The green discount applies to both tracks.
Frequently asked questions
What is a green mortgage in Romania?
It is a mortgage from a commercial bank that offers a reduced rate or better terms for an energy-efficient home, usually with a class A energy performance certificate or RoGBC certification. There is no single government scheme; each bank sets the criteria and the benefit.
How much discount does a green mortgage give?
At BCR and ING, according to the banks' websites in October 2026, 0.2 percentage points off the rate. On a loan of 1,000,000 lei over 25 years, that is about 116–131 lei a month, depending on the stage of the loan.
Is every new home in Romania class A?
Not necessarily. Law 372/2005 requires the nZEB standard for buildings whose building permit was issued from 31 December 2020, but the bank checks the rating shown on the energy performance certificate. Ask for the certificate itself.
Can you get a green mortgage on a home still under construction?
It depends on the bank. The final certificate is issued after construction is complete, so ask in advance whether the discount is granted on the basis of an expected certificate, or only after handover, and whether it is updated automatically.
Is a green mortgage available to non-residents?
Not at every bank. ING, for example, requires residence in Romania and income in lei. At other banks, the terms for non-residents depend on the bank's policy, and it is worth asking before you start the process.
The bottom line
A green mortgage in Romania is a nice bonus, not the engine of the deal. 0.2 percentage points are worth a few tens of thousands of lei over the loan, but the efficient home saves far more in bills, every month.
If you want to check whether the home you are considering meets the conditions for a green track, and how it fits into your financing plan, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the certificate, the offers and the questions for the bank together.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: BCR, Casa Mea Natura · BCR, Casa Mea · ING Bank Romania, ING Ipotecar · Raiffeisen Bank, Casa Ta Verde · Law 372/2005 on the energy performance of buildings, Romanian legislation portal · Romania Green Building Council (RoGBC) · Economedia, IRCC from 1 October 2026.
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The terms of the green tracks, the rates and the discounts are as published by the banks in October 2026 and change. The calculations are for illustration only. Before deciding, get a written offer from the bank.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
