In a world where purchases are made with a tap of a phone or even facial recognition, Algeria appears to be discovering an older innovation “the bank card”. A recent article in Le Monde highlights a viral video featuring an Algerian senator, accompanied by a local official, proudly using a bank card to buy dairy products in a small village east of Algiers. Surrounded by an admiring entourage, the official transaction was meant to showcase the country’s progress in digital payments. Instead, it unintentionally highlighted just how far behind Algeria remains—where paying with a card is still considered a novelty rather than the norm.
En Algérie, on filme encore des officiels qui découvrent la carte bancaire… censé « témoigner d’une avancée en matière de dématérialisation des paiements » https://t.co/4kiY2NFoay pic.twitter.com/sb4aQ6YuDf
— Fdesouche.com est une revue de presse (@F_Desouche) March 14, 2025
While much of the world has embraced contactless transactions, mobile payments, and digital wallets, Algeria remains deeply attached to cash. According to the Groupement d’Intérêt Économique Monétique, in 2023, a staggering 90% of bank cards in the country were used solely for ATM withdrawals, not direct purchases. For most Algerians, cards serve one purpose: getting cash. Using them in stores or for online shopping remains a foreign concept. And if withdrawing money involves standing in long lines at ATMs—especially during Ramadan, when patience is already being tested—it’s just another part of daily life. A little suspense never hurt anyone, right?
Le Monde points out that Algeria has repeatedly missed the boat on digital transformation. The country only introduced 3G in 2013, a decade behind many others, and it has struggled to catch up ever since. While the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many nations toward digital payments, Algeria merely observed from the sidelines, with only a modest increase in online transactions between 2023 and 2024. For most citizens, paying by card still feels like an unusual, almost experimental act, despite official figures attempting to downplay just how outdated the system remains.
A study by the Institute of Economic Sciences in Algiers paints an even starker picture: only 3% of Algerian businesses are equipped with card payment terminals. That means an overwhelming 97% of retailers still rely solely on cash transactions. The payment terminal used by the senator in Barika? It might as well be a museum piece in a country where electronic payments are practically non-existent.
Yet, on paper, Algeria’s digital revolution should be within reach. The reality, however, is more complicated. Many citizens remain skeptical about cashless transactions, fearing technical glitches and failed payments. Cash, for all its inconveniences, is reliable—no system crashes, no processing delays, no risk of a payment vanishing due to a technical bug. The concept of using a bank card remains something people don’t fully understand, and many would rather avoid altogether.
To push digital adoption, authorities have introduced initiatives like allowing citizens to pay their car tax online. In theory, this sounds like a step forward. In practice, it comes with a caveat: those who prefer can still complete the process in cash at tax offices. A half-hearted modernization effort, where digital meets old-school habits.
Despite government efforts to encourage cashless payments, Algeria remains stuck in the past. The truth is, most Algerians don’t seem too bothered by it. Life goes on, transactions happen, and cash remains king. After all, who needs a bank card when a stack of bills still gets the job done?
