National Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Sounds the Alarm on Rising Banking Service Costs in Tunisia
The National Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ANPME) has raised concerns about the continuous increase in banking service costs in Tunisia, which it believes seriously limits the competitiveness of economic institutions and particularly affects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Current Banking Fees Structure
The association highlights in its statement published today, November 3, that the current structure of banking fees and commissions heavily weighs on the productive fabric, considered the main driver of growth and employment in the country. Despite the importance of the banking sector in financing the real economy, the multiplication of charges - often lacking transparency - makes financial management difficult for businesses and increases production costs.
Key Statistics
Data published by the ANPME reveals that:
- A bank account costs an average of approximately 996 dinars per year.
- Additional fees include:
- Card fees: 30 to 120 dinars.
- Checkbook fees: 5 to 15 dinars.
- Transfer commissions reach 0.5% for internal operations and up to 1.25% for international transfers.
- Interbank withdrawals are charged up to 3 dinars per operation.
- Administrative fees range from 10 to 25 dinars per service.
- Financing costs approach 11 to 14% per year, considering the benchmark rate (TMM) and applied risk margins.
Lack of Unified Tariff Grid
The association warns against the effects of this fragmented system: the absence of a unified tariff grid favors significant discrepancies from one establishment to another and creates unequal access to financial services, particularly for entrepreneurs and artisans. This imbalance also pushes some economic actors to turn to the informal economy, deemed less financially constraining.
Impact on SMEs
SMEs, which represent over 90% of the Tunisian economic fabric, are the first to suffer the consequences. The lack of transparency in tariff presentation, high guarantees required by banks, and reduced operational liquidity reduce their investment and expansion opportunities.
Proposed Reforms
To address this situation, the ANPME proposes a set of structural reforms, including:
- Unification of banking pricing methods and publication of official comparisons.
- Stimulating competition between banks to reduce commissions.
- Establishing dedicated financing mechanisms for SMEs at preferential rates.
- Supporting financial innovation and the transition to fintech to reduce costs.
- Developing financing alternatives, such as Islamic finance, venture capital, and development banks.
According to the ANPME, controlling banking costs has become a central challenge for restoring confidence in the Tunisian financial system and ensuring a better connection between finance and the real economy. Without rapid reform, the risk is seeing the gap between large, well-capitalized institutions and small businesses, which are at the heart of local development, widen further.
