Cash still dominates transactions in Albania - BoA: Over 553 billion lek circulated at bank counters during the first quarter of the year
Cash continues to remain one of the most widely used forms of transactions in Albania, despite the increase in electronic payments and the use of online banking services. Data for the first quarter of 2026 show that both businesses and citizens continue to carry out a significant number of cash transactions.
According to official figures from the Bank of Albania, businesses have carried out over 802 thousand cash transactions during the first three months of the year, with a total value of approximately 370 billion lek. This means that every day, thousands of companies and enterprises have continued to use bank counters to deposit or withdraw physical cash.
The vast majority of these transactions are related to cash deposits. During the first quarter alone, businesses have deposited around 267 billion lek in the banking system, while they have withdrawn over 102 billion lek from their accounts.
On the other hand, individuals also continue to rely heavily on cash. During the first quarter, over 859 thousand cash transactions were recorded, with a total value of more than 183 billion lek.
Citizens have deposited around 106 billion lek in banks, while they have withdrawn around 78 billion lek. This shows that a significant portion of the savings and financial circulation of Albanian families continues to pass through physical money.
Another interesting indicator is that individuals have carried out more transactions in number than businesses, but their value has been significantly lower. While businesses have carried out transactions with larger values, related to economic activity and daily payments, citizens have carried out more actions, but mainly for personal and family needs.
In total, during the first three months of the year alone, businesses and individuals have carried out over 1.6 million cash transactions, with a value exceeding 553 billion lek. The figures show that, although the digitalization of payments is advancing, cash continues to play an important role in the Albanian economy and remains a preferred means of payment for both businesses and citizens.
Reform in administration, EU assesses Albania's progress - Pirdeni: ASPA expands trainings, 540 participants from the private sector
Public administration reform and civil service modernization remain among the main priorities in Albania's European integration process. During her report......
The French model of criminal asset management - AAPSK and ARO expand international cooperation
A delegation of the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK) and the Asset Recovery Office (ARO), led by the Chief......
Labor force participation rate reached 76.2%/ Agriculture leads employment decline, services show growth
According to the latest data published by the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), the labor market in Albania presents a mixed picture in the first quarter of......
Hoxha at SEECP: Albania's path towards the EU has entered the most decisive phase, the aim is to close negotiations by 2027
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, participated in the Ministerial meeting of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) taking......
Peleshi meets in Athens with Plakiotakis: Greece supports Albania's European journey and strengthening parliamentary cooperation
The Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Niko Peleshi, held an official meeting in Athens with the Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs and First......
Sula: The reform of technical inspections should focus on preventing risks in construction
Construction safety should be treated as a shared responsibility of institutions, professionals, universities and the private sector, while the technical......
The Transparency Board publishes new fuel prices: Oil drops to 188 lek/liter
The Transparency Board approved this Wednesday the new fuel sales prices in the domestic market, which will enter into force on June 10, starting at 2:00......
Rama: The Milot-Balldren axis will give a new impetus to the development of the north
Prime Minister Edi Rama described the start of works on the Milot-Balldren road axis as an investment of strategic importance for northern Albania,......
