Tunisia records over 121 million bank card transactions by September 2024

Tunisia reported 121.2 million bank card transactions as of September 30, 2024, amounting to a total value of 20.9 billion dinars (TND).

This represents an 8.1% increase in the number of transactions and a 9.9% rise in value compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).

The majority of these transactions, 62%, were cash withdrawals, while 38% were payments.

The BCT bulletin also noted a 9.8% decline in the number of bank cards, which fell to 6.36 million compared to December 2023.

Conversely, the number of ATMs (DABs) and bank terminals (GABs) rose by 2.5%, totaling 3,287 machines.

Mobile Payments Surge

Mobile payments saw explosive growth, with transactions multiplying tenfold.

By the end of September 2024, mobile payment transactions reached 1.6 million, valued at 232.7 million TND, compared to just 159,000 transactions worth 37.8 million TND in September 2023.

Electronic payments (e-payments) also experienced a 10.5% increase in transaction volume, totaling 14.8 million transactions, with a 2.3% rise in value to 908.9 million TND.

Tunisia now has 1,210 active e-commerce platforms and 38,200 point-of-sale terminals (TPEs).

Proximity payments saw a 14.1% increase in transaction numbers, totaling 31.3 million transactions valued at 3.96 billion TND, an 11.2% rise in value.

Other Payment Methods

Telecleared payment methods showed varied trends. Direct debit transactions surged by 22.2%, reaching 4.86 million transactions worth 18.37 billion TND.

The rejection rate stood at 43.47% for transaction numbers and 6.55% for amounts.

Bank transfers grew by 2.7%, amounting to 25.5 million transactions worth nearly 40.85 billion TND, with rejection rates of 0.43% for transaction numbers and 0.11% for values.

Transactions involving promissory notes rose slightly by 0.7%, with 1.3 million transactions totaling 25.08 billion TND.

Meanwhile, check-based transactions dropped by 1%, totaling 18.52 million transactions worth 95.61 billion TND.

Real-Time Settlement System Growth

The Elyssa-RTGS real-time gross settlement system, managed by the BCT, processed 270,156 orders totaling 3.21 trillion TND by the end of Q3 2024.

This marks a 4.4% increase in volume and a 19.8% rise in value compared to the same period in 2023.

This system facilitates interbank operations, treasury functions, and monetary policy implementation, ensuring smooth financial transactions across Tunisia’s economic framework.