Banking Supervision Report 2024: Trends in Tunisia's Payment Landscape
According to the 2024 annual banking supervision report published by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT), the number of bank cards in circulation decreased to 5.5 million by the end of 2024, compared to 7.1 million in 2023, representing a 21.4% decline. This decrease is attributed to a cleanup operation of inactive cards conducted by banks to improve data quality and better target active users.
Despite this decline, the use of electronic payment methods continued to grow. The number of monetary transactions reached 151.5 million operations in 2024, compared to 138.9 million in 2023, representing a nearly 9% increase. In terms of value, the total volume of transactions rose to 26,273 million dinars, up from 23,674 million the previous year.
This trend confirms a clear shift towards digital payments in Tunisia, supported by the expansion of withdrawal and payment terminals. The network of automated teller machines (ATMs) and bank branches continued to grow, reaching 3,305 units by the end of 2024, compared to 3,207 in 2023, representing an average annual increase of 3% over the past five years.
However, the National Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ANPME) highlights that the high cost of bank cards and banking operations remains a significant barrier to their use. According to the association, issuance and renewal fees can range from 20 to 40 dinars, and commissions on withdrawals and payments continue to weigh on consumers, particularly those with limited income. The ANPME estimates that these costs contribute to the reduction in the number of active cards, despite the growth of digital payments.
Key Statistics:
- Number of bank cards in circulation: 5.5 million (2024) vs. 7.1 million (2023)
- Number of monetary transactions: 151.5 million (2024) vs. 138.9 million (2023)
- Total volume of transactions: 26,273 million dinars (2024) vs. 23,674 million dinars (2023)
- Number of ATMs and bank branches: 3,305 (2024) vs. 3,207 (2023)
