For the first time, the amount of banknotes and coins in circulation (BCC) exceeded 24 billion dinars on Friday, March 28, 2025, according to data from the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).
This marks an increase of 2.7 billion dinars, compared to the same date last year. Cash circulation continued to rise through Eid al-Fitr, reaching a record 24.005 billion dinars—the highest level ever recorded.
The use of cash as the preferred means of payment is the result, on the one hand, of the growing reluctance of retailers to accept cheques and, on the other hand, of the still insufficient number of Eftpos terminals installed.
During the Eid al-Fitr period, a significant proportion of retailers force economic operators to pay in cash in most situations, as many retailers have not yet joined the TuniChèque platform or on the pretext that cheque verification will cause congestion at points of sale.
