How much do Albanians pay with cards? - BoA: In 3 months, 5.8 million transactions were carried out through POS terminals
Albanians are increasingly making card payments in stores. The latest data from the Bank of Albania shows that card payments at POS terminals have increased by 30% compared to the January-March period of last year.
Thus, in the first quarter of this year, 228 million lek payments were made through POS terminals, up from 175 million a year earlier. According to official statistics, the card was used 5.8 million times by Albanians to make purchases in stores, markets, or to make payments in bars and other businesses.
Compared to the first three months of the year, there has been a 112% increase in the number of card transactions carried out at POS terminals.
The increase in card payments has gone hand in hand with the installation of new terminals.
During the first quarter of 2025, 709 new POS terminals were installed by businesses. The latest data from the Bank of Albania shows a 2.9% increase in POS terminals compared to 2024, bringing the total number of POS terminals in our country to 25,190.
Despite the increase in card payments, Albanians continue to be closely tied to physical cash and electronic payments per capita are still at low levels.
This year, the American company Mastercard launched a program in Albania to distribute 4,750 free POS terminals to merchants. On May 1, the call for applications was officially opened for small and medium-sized businesses operating in the food, hotel, taxi, bar and restaurant sectors, where they will have zero commission for up to one year for transactions carried out by citizens with a card at the POS.
Meanwhile, in 2026, the implementation of the fast payment system is expected to begin, which will allow citizens to make payments in stores by scanning a QR code on their phone.
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