Card operations in 2020:Increase of the number of active cards, the value and number of transactions

In 2020, the number of active 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 „Card Transactions in BH 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 BH and one card company for their customers. 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 performed in the value of KM 11,535,123,080, most of it (71%) being ATM transactions, 28% being POS transactions, while 1% of transactions was carried out by 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 KM 102, which was lower compared to 2019 by KM 14. The average annual turnover per card in 2020 was KM 5,314 KM, which was higher by KM 92 compared to the previous year.

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 BH, was lower compared to 2019, resulting from restrictions on travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Banks are constantly working on introducing a higher number of ATM and POS devices. In the previous year, there was the 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 the total of 956,601 persons, out of it, 76,994 legal persons and 879,607 natural persons.

The entire report „Card transactions in BH in 2019“ is available on the CBBH web site https://www.cbbh.ba/Content/Read/1058