POSI is presented – a new step toward the digitalization of payments in Albania
The Albanian Association of Banks (AAB), collaborator with the Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate and the international company Mastercard, presented on March 27, 2025, the National Program for the Acceleration of Electronic Payments, known as POSI. This program aims to expand the network of POS (Point of Sale) devices across the country, offering selected businesses commission-free usage for a 12-month period.
The program is focused on supporting accommodation businesses, restaurants, small businesses, and taxi services. This initiative is a concrete step to promote electronic payments, reduce the use of physical cash, and fight informality.
The launch ceremony was attended by H.E. Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania; Mr. Mark Barnet, President of Mastercard Europe; Mr. Gent Sejko, Governor of the Bank of Albania; and Ms. Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate. They welcomed the initiative and expressed their support for its successful implementation.
Also present were executives of commercial banks operating in the country, as well as representatives from card and payment departments.
In an open discussion, the Chairman of AAB’s Supervisory Board, Mr. Bledar Shella, and the Executive Vice President South East Europe at Mastercard, Mr. Bartocz Ciolkowski, shared their insights. Mr. Shella emphasized the country’s healthy economic environment, the strong performance of the banking sector, marking its best year in the past decade, and the willingness, commitment, and support for further digitalization and the realization of ongoing projects. He particularly highlighted the success of tourism and the responsibility of the banking sector to respond with high-quality services to meet this growing demand.
Institutional cooperation, shared commitment, and joint efforts are key to the success of the POSI program. Banks have collaborated and continue to support this initiative, with the aim of increasing not only card acceptance, but also card issuance, financial education for clients, and the fight against informality.
POSI is not just a program, but an important step toward the digital reality of the future.
