The government has launched a national effort to reduce cash use and expand digital payments.

At the meeting in Tirana, Governor Gent Sejko stated that the Bank of Albania is modernizing the digital payment system. He emphasized that the Central Bank has taken concrete steps to cut cash and increase electronic payments.

He said, “The Bank of Albania aims to deeply modernize the payment infrastructure.”

Next, Sejko outlined key reforms. The Bank adopted the new payments law, licensed electronic payment institutions, developed open-banking infrastructure, joined SEPA, and activated the full SEPA system for international transfers.

In addition, he confirmed that major projects remain under way. The fast-payment system developed with the Bank of Italy will be ready by the end of 2026.

As a result, Sejko expects a significant reduction in cash use and greater security, efficiency, and transparency in financial transactions.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj stated that the Ministry’s measures align with the government’s priorities for expanding digital payments.

He added that the 2026 fiscal package introduces the first concrete limits on cash transactions between businesses and on cash payments between businesses and individuals.

Finally, Malaj stressed that the government aims to minimize cash use by 2030 and deepen economic formalization across all sectors.

Overall, the new initiative—supported by legal, technological, and administrative reforms—will transform Albania’s payment systems and move the country toward modern European digital-payment standards.

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