Banking Disparities in Tunisia: A Territorial Analysis
With approximately 55 bank agencies for every 100,000 adults in Tunis, compared to only 7 or 8 in governorates like Kasserine or Sidi Bouzid, the gap is clear and reflects significant territorial disparities in access to banking services. This is highlighted in the latest report by Melqart Insights, the research division of Melqart Partners, which analyzes the Tunisian banking sector from the perspective of territorial capital allocation.
Territorial Disparities in Banking Services
This difference, which means that the banking density in Tunis (i.e., the number of agencies per 100,000 adults) is nearly 8 times higher than in certain interior regions, is not simply a local imbalance but rather reflects a deeper organization of the financial system. At the national level, this concentration is even more apparent, as the Greater Tunis and Center-East regions account for nearly 67% of the banking network, leaving a large part of the interior of the country in a state of structural underinvestment.
Historical Context of Economic Development
This distribution of the banking network was not constructed randomly. It is part of an ancient economic trajectory. Since the 1970s, Tunisian development has focused on the coastal areas, oriented towards industry, services, and export activities. Banks followed these already dynamic hubs, setting up where economic flows were most visible and risks were best managed.
Cumulative Effect of Economic Development
Over time, this adaptation logic has produced a cumulative effect: finance has consolidated where it was already present. The coastal areas now concentrate most of the banking activity, while the interior remains behind, with limited access to financial services, credit, and investment.
Economic and Social Consequences
This imbalance is not only spatial but also economic and social. The regions with the most bank agencies are also those with the most dynamic activity, while less banked areas often accumulate higher unemployment and economic fragility.
