During the “Global Money Week 2025” event in Tirana today, Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, remarked, “The Bank of Albania has been instrumental in the development of payment systems, starting with the creation of the Albanian Interbank Payment System (AIPS) and continuing to lay the groundwork for the advancement of money and capital markets.”

“Currently, it processes payments approximately five times greater than the Gross Domestic Product, which is a clear indication of its significance for the financial markets and the country’s economic growth,” stated Sejko.

The Governor announced that, “In addition to the traditional role of central banks in operating large-value payment systems, the Bank of Albania has also established the Small Value Payment System (AECH) and, more recently, the AIPS EURO system.”

According to him, thanks to the Bank of Albania’s policies for regulating commissions, this evolution has generated significant savings.

“By eliminating commissions for payments up to 20,000 lek, consumers and businesses have saved approximately 700 million lek since 2020,” said Sejko.

The Governor revealed that a new project has recently been initiated to establish fast payment systems in partnership with the Bank of Italy and the central banks of the Western Balkans.

“We will introduce an easy method for making payments through mobile phones. In addition to the innovation this system will bring, it is expected to have a substantial impact by generating savings and enhancing public participation, while also familiarizing people with innovative financial services,” he stated.

During his speech, Sejko also emphasized the importance of financial literacy for citizens.

“History has provided many examples where the lack of accurate information and financial fraud have resulted in significant losses for citizens. In a time when information spreads quickly and social media has a strong influence, it’s easy to fall victim to unverified financial advice. Investments and financial decisions should be based on thorough analysis and reliable sources to avoid losses and severe economic consequences,” he remarked.

“Global Money Week, organized worldwide by OECD-INFE, aims to help children and young people develop a healthy financial mindset. This year’s theme, ‘Think before you follow, wise money tomorrow,’ is a call for reflection and a critical approach to financial information sources, considering the significant influence of social media and technology on the financial decision-making of young people.”

As part of this week, the national slogan is “Think wisely, prosperity in the future! – 100 years of central banking in Albania!”—an expression of the necessity for making wise financial decisions for a sustainable future.

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