The number of checks issued in the first quarter of 2025 fell sharply due to the launch of the new “TuniChèque” platform on February 2, according to the latest Payments Bulletin published by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).
By the end of March, the number of checks issued in Tunisia had fallen by 62% to 2.33 million, totaling 15,989 million dinars, a decrease of 48.3%.
However, the BCT highlights a temporary increase in the check rejection rate in February, linked to an exceptional reservation rate on TuniChèque. This situation returned to normal in the following months.
In fact, over the first three months of the year, the check rejection rate was 4.1% in terms of numbers and 7.2% in terms of value.
The first quarter saw a significant increase in online payments and local electronic transactions. The number of e-payment transactions reached 6.5 million, totaling 836.7 million dinars — a 22% increase in volume and a 21% increase in value compared to the same period in 2024.
Proximity payments made via electronic payment terminals (EPTs) also grew remarkably, with nearly 6 million transactions (+37%) totaling 34.9 million dinars (+35%).
Mobile payments remain the star performer this quarter, experiencing spectacular growth.
Transactions via wallets and payment service providers (PSPs) increased sixfold compared to the first quarter of 2024, reaching 16 million transactions and a cumulative amount exceeding 2.4 billion dinars (cash in and cash out combined).
This transformation is driven by the widespread adoption of mobile devices for money transfers (51.4%) and merchant payments (33.3%). The mobile channel is now establishing itself as a key driver of financial inclusion and the digitization of consumer habits.
