In this paper we analyze the use of promissory notes as a payment and credit instrument in the commercial affairs of Bessarabia between the issuing of the Regulation of 1832 regarding the promissory notes, and the establishment in 1864 of the first banking institution in province, the Kishinev subsidiary of the State Bank. Based on research and analysis of documentary sources and historical literature, we can ascertain that promissory notes were an important instrument of payment and credit among merchants. Its frequent use is proved by the registers of city magistrates, where we can find copies of issued and protested promissory notes, but also numerous letters of attorney, in which merchant authorized the issuance of promissory notes to members of their families, or other persons. Beside that, merchants delegated quite frequent the right to represent them in courts for the recovery of debts on promissory notes, which fact shows clearly that the Regulation of 1832 didn’t solve the strict and rapid recovery of debts, which was the basic feature of indebtedness through promissory notes.