Banking in Tunisia: Progress and Challenges
The banking sector in Tunisia has made significant progress, mainly due to the expansion of the physical network of bank branches. In 2024, 19 new branches were opened, bringing the total number of points of sale to 2,064, which translates to a density of one branch per 5,759 inhabitants, compared to 5,795 the previous year.
However, the geographical distribution of these branches remains highly unbalanced, making banking a national challenge. The majority of the network is concentrated on the coast, which accounts for nearly 80% of the branches, with half of them located in the Greater Tunis area. In contrast, the interior regions of the country remain largely underserved, due to limited economic activity and low deposit collection potential. In these areas, the informal economy is prevalent, cash circulation is dominant, and wealth created by households and businesses often escapes official financial circuits.
Another major challenge is the demographic decline in the western part of the country, exacerbated by rural exodus and clandestine emigration.
From a profitability perspective, financial institutions are not incentivized to establish themselves in these territories. They prefer to develop digital services, which can partially fill these gaps. However, customers, both individuals and businesses, remain attached to human contact and the physical presence of a branch advisor. Moreover, digital banks and payment institutions do not yet offer complete services such as credit granting or overdraft access.
Finally, a portion of the population, whose income is not declared, deliberately avoids the banking system, fearing detection by the tax authorities. Therefore, improving banking goes beyond the issue of banking fees; it relies primarily on restoring trust between citizens and the financial system.
