According to BoA, the year 2023 coincides with the finalization of the National Strategy for Small Value Payments (2018-2023).
In this context, achievements have been made in terms of the implementation of the last remaining measures in the action plan, which are related to the approval and implementation of the law “On basic payment accounts.” This law is already a reality and is expected to deliver an impact on further expansion of financial inclusion and the use of electronic payments.

In this framework, the financial inclusion of the population has increased at a satisfactory pace, reaching almost 70% and the payments per capita of the population resulted in 20 for 2023, from 17 a year ago.

The Bank of Albania states that the measures taken within the modernization of payment systems have had a real impact on the economy.
Referring to statistics, interbank transactions in euros for customers within the country have increased by about 42% in the first 11 months of 2023 and, according to rough estimates, they saved the Albanian economy at least about 22 million euros.

On the other hand, the work initiated by the Bank of Albania for accelerated membership in SEPA (Single Euro Payment Area), within the regional project “For the modernization of payment systems in the countries of the Western Balkans” and further promoted in the new Growth Plan of the Western Balkans, is estimated to bring a number of benefits to a range of strategic sectors of the Albanian economy, such as exports, tourism, foreign investments.
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