TIRANA, July 20 /ATA/ Director of Payments, Accounting and Finance Department at Bank of Albania (BoA) Ledia Bregu stated that instant payments will expand financial access for individuals and enterprises, driving the country’s rapid transition to a digital-first economy.
In a statement to the media, Bregu said that in the first quarter of the current year, the card purchases officially outpaced ATM cash withdrawals for the first time. As electronic and instant payment systems continue to expand, they will make transactions even faster, more seamless, and accessible for everyone.
According to her, thanks to the decision requiring tourism and transport businesses to use POS terminals, electronic payments have surged. The number of terminals has doubled, adding over 6,000 units. Bregu highlighted that card payments are a faster, cheaper alternative to cash for both consumers and the economy.
Recent data highlights a major shift toward digital payments. Card transactions increased by 33% in volume and 22% in value, totaling around 6.7 million transactions worth approximately 28 billion lekë. Additionally, Bregu noted that per capita banking transactions grew by 30%, reflecting the broader adoption of electronic payment services. /e.xh/j.p/p.s./
