Algeria: Electronic Payments via Smartphones to Launch in January 2025

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | December 31st, 2024 — Algeria is set to revolutionize its payment systems as electronic payments via smartphones will officially be introduced in January 2025. Announced by Mohand Bourai, President of the Association of Banks and Financial Institutions (ABEF), the launch of the “DZ MOB PAY” system will allow Algerian citizens to use their smartphones for secure payments and money transfers through participating banks and Algeria Post.

This new development marks a significant step forward in Algeria’s digital transformation. The activation of this payment system aligns with the country’s broader push for financial inclusion and digitalization, promising to simplify and secure daily transactions for both individuals and merchants. The digital payment ecosystem is rapidly expanding in Algeria, and 2025 is seen as a pivotal year for the modernization of the sector.

The introduction of mobile payments will enable users to make payments by scanning QR codes. Currently, three key institutions – the National Bank of Algeria (BNA), Al Salam Bank Algeria, and Algeria Post – are offering smartphone-based payment services using this technology. These services will be available to all users with access to mobile banking services, offering a seamless, secure, and innovative method for conducting financial transactions.

The Groupement d’intérêt économique (GIE) Monétique, which oversees the implementation of the new electronic payment system, announced that the “DZ MOB PAY” system will be activated in January 2025, providing a platform for simplified, rapid, and secure payments. The system is designed to be user-friendly, allowing citizens and merchants alike to register easily via banks and Algeria Post. Additionally, all transactions conducted via this system will be free of charge for both users and merchants, further promoting its widespread adoption.

This expansion builds on the initial introduction of smartphone payments in Algeria in 2022, which was initially limited to users within the same bank. With the launch of the mobile payment interoperability platform, Switch Mobile, in June 2024, customers can now complete transactions across different banks, marking a major milestone in the country’s digital payment landscape.

As of October 2024, the volume of electronic payments via Point of Sale (POS) terminals has reached nearly 36 billion DZD, and over 14.8 million online transactions valued at approximately 39 billion DZD have been recorded. The number of merchants accepting online payments has risen to 528, and smartphone-based transactions have surpassed 75 million, with a total value exceeding 434 billion DZD.

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