EN Polako Finance Blog
Guides, analytics, and case studies on online payments in Serbia
Serbian fintech in August 2026: what actually changed
The Rulebook giving SEF a semi-automatic VAT return is out, but the feature is still DEMO-only and starts January 2027. Entrepreneurs' associations asked to raise the VAT threshold to RSD 12M (not enacted). NBS payment services draft is still a draft.
We Let the AI That Got Banned for Hacking Test Our Fintech Code
Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 was blocked by the U.S. government three days after launch — then came back. We ran it on our payment platform. Here's where AI belongs in fintech — and where it doesn't.
The Credit Rating You Never Asked For (That's Already Making Decisions for You)
We found out in May that our company had a credit rating — AA+. We never applied for it. Here's what that means for every business operating in Serbia.
What happens after you contact us: from day 1 to your first payment
You clicked "Get in touch." Now what? Here's exactly what happens — week by week — from your first message to real money in your account.
Is your store ready for its first real payment? A pre-flight checklist
You spent weeks getting ready. Then your first customer tries to pay — error. Here's the 6-point checklist that prevents launch-day disasters.
Visa vs Mastercard vs DinaCard: which cards should your Serbian store accept?
A customer has three cards. They'll use whichever your site accepts. Here's why you need all three — and what each costs.
5 mistakes that kill new online stores in Serbia before their first sale
No HTTPS, no bank account, custom checkout nightmares, desktop-only testing, and no return policy. We see these again and again.
What is acquiring? A plain-language guide for Serbian merchants
Your bank calls it "acquiring services." Your accountant mentions "the acquirer." Here's what it actually means and why your online store needs it.
eFiskalizacija: how to set up fiscal receipts for your online store in Serbia
Serbia requires a fiscal receipt for every online transaction. Here's what you need, how it works, and the easiest way to stay compliant.
Anatomy of a payment: where your 250 dinars go in 3 seconds
You click pay, the spinner spins, payment confirmed. But in those 3 seconds your money passed through 5 organisations. Here's the full journey.
Virtual Office in Serbia: A 2026 Practical Guide for Founders
Registering a Serbian DOO or preduzetnik without a lease? A virtual office is the legal shortcut — with a few catches worth knowing before you sign.
How much money your checkout loses every month (let's calculate)
For every 100 customers who add to cart, 70 leave without paying. We break down the formula, show the real cost, and explain the cheapest fixes.
SEPA is here: what it means for Serbian e-commerce
Serbia joined SEPA in 2025 and full PSP connectivity arrives in 2026. Here's what changes for online merchants — lower fees, instant cross-border payments, and new channels.
110.6 million sales: Serbia's e-commerce boom and how to ride the wave
Serbia recorded 110.6 million online purchases in 2025 — up 34%. Here's what's driving the growth and how to start accepting payments before the market gets crowded.
When a customer takes money back: what merchants need to know about chargebacks
A chargeback lands in your account three weeks after the sale. No warning, no conversation — and you pay a dispute fee win or lose. Here is what chargebacks are, why they happen, and how to fight and prevent them.
QR transfer or card payment: what should your business choose?
We break down two ways to accept money in Serbia — IPS transfer by QR code and card acquiring. In plain language: what works at the start, and what you need to scale.
Serbian Fintech: The Week in Review (18–24 May 2026)
Several significant developments hit the Serbian fintech space in the past seven days — the operational launch of SEPA on 5 May, a new daily record for IPS payments, and the National Bank's updated decision on systemically important banks. Worth knowing for anyone accepting payments in Serbia or handling cross-border transfers.
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