In 2020, the number of active banking cards increased, as well as the value and number of card transactions, compared to 2019, as shown by the data of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CBBH).
According to the report titled “Card Transactions in BiH in 2020“ published by the CBBH, the total number of active cards in 2020 was 2,170,556, and it was higher by 31,952 cards compared to 2019. Cards were issued by 23 banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one card company. The highest number of cards is related to debit cards, followed by credit cards and delayed payment cards.
In 2020, there was a trend of the growth of the value and number of card transactions. So, during 2020, card transactions were executed in the value of 11,535,123,080 BAM, most of it (71%) being ATM transactions, 28% being POS transactions, while 1% of transactions were carried via the Internet. During 2020, the number of transactions increased compared to 2019, so the total number of transactions was 113,574,237. So, the use of cards for cash withdrawals was prevailing, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The average value of one transaction was 102,00 BAM which was lower compared to 2019 by 14,00 BAM. The average annual turnover per card
The data show that the total value of ATM and POS transactions realized in 2020 by cards of BH banks in foreign countries, and by foreign cards in BiH, was lower compared to 2019, resulting from restrictions on travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The banks are constantly working on introducing a higher number of ATM and POS devices. In the previous year, there was a total of 1,627 ATMs and 30,371 POS devices installed.
The services of electronic banking in 2020 were offered by 23 banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is a strong trend of growth of the number of customers using such services, so this kind of service included a total of 956,601 persons, out of it, 76,994 legal persons and 879,607 natural persons, stated the CBBH.
