Finance: Digital Payments Explode, Checks Decline Sharply

Tunisia is undergoing an unprecedented digital transformation in its financial sector, as evidenced by key indicators from the first quarter of 2026. The overall value of monetary operations surged by 12.5%, reaching 7,339.6 million dinars across 41 million transactions. This growth is largely fueled by the booming mobile payment and e-commerce sectors, signaling a profound shift in how Tunisians conduct financial transactions.

A striking development is the historic collapse in the use of paper checks. Transactions involving checks plummeted by 24.9% in volume and 28% in value, totaling 11.5 billion dinars. This sharp decline is attributed to the recent revision of the law on checks, which decriminalized amounts below 5,000 dinars, and the implementation of the "TuniCheck" verification platform in February 2025. As a result, economic actors are increasingly favoring direct bank transfers, which saw an 8.7% increase to 19.5 billion dinars, and particularly bills of exchange (traites), which experienced a significant surge of 35.9% in volume, reaching 13.9 billion dinars.

In parallel, digital payment solutions are flourishing. The national mobile payment system, "TunPay," is a major driver, with the number of recharged electronic wallets growing by 22.2% to over 477,000. These wallets facilitated 2.7 million operations, amounting to 487.6 million dinars. E-commerce also continues its upward trajectory, with 1,288 active online merchant sites and a 34.8% increase in online transactions, totaling 382.7 million dinars.

Furthermore, proximity electronic payments are strengthening. Payments made via the country's 45,000 electronic point-of-sale (POS) terminals increased by 19.7%. The banking infrastructure also remains robust, supported by 3,324 ATMs and 5.87 million bank cards currently in circulation. This comprehensive shift indicates a move towards a more digitized and efficient financial ecosystem in Tunisia.