Growth was also recorded in voluntary pension funds (Pilon III). Their assets grew by 38% over the year—to 8.4 billion RON (approximately $1.8 billion), according to the Romanian Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF).
Most of these funds remain within the Romanian economy. About 95% of private pension funds’ assets are invested in local financial instruments, with the majority of investments made in lei. Among the main investment areas are government bonds and shares of companies traded on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, notes Digi24.
Government securities remain the main asset of pension funds. In Pilonul II, they account for 145.39 billion RON (about $31.8 billion)—nearly two-thirds of the total portfolio (63.9%). Another 63.13 billion RON (approximately $13.8 billion) is invested in stocks, accounting for 27.7% of assets. The remainder is allocated to investment funds and corporate bonds.
As of the end of May, more than 8.5 million people were enrolled in the Pilonul II system. In just one month—May 2026—the funds received contributions totaling 2.09 billion RON (about $456.6 million). The average contribution was 453 RON (approximately $99).
Seven funds operate within the mandatory pension system: Aripi, AZT Viitorul Tău, BCR, BRD, Metropolitan Life, NN, and Vital.
The voluntary pension segment is developing just as actively. By the end of May, Pilonul III had more than 1 million participants—1,080,199 people. The average monthly contribution was 167 RON (approximately $36), and total inflows for May reached 93 million RON (about $20.3 million).
The investment strategy of voluntary funds is virtually identical to that of mandatory funds: 63.1% of assets, or 5.297 billion RON (about $1.16 billion), are invested in government bonds. Stocks account for 28.7% of the portfolio—2.41 billion RON (approximately $527 million).
According to ASF, the country’s private pension system continues to expand. Both the volume of accumulated funds and the number of participants using these programs for long-term savings are growing.
