Member of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, Mohamed Zied El Maher, one of the initiators of the draft law proposing the creation of a postal bank, stated that the project is “old” but had faced obstacles in recent years that delayed its implementation.
In an exclusive statement to Tunisie Numérique, he revealed that a session will be held next Monday within the Finance Committee to hear from the proponents of the initiative and examine the details of the proposal.
An Old Project Revived During The Review Of The Financial Exclusion Law
According to the MP, discussions about the postal bank resurfaced during the evaluation of the law on combating financial exclusion submitted by the government since 2024.
He argued that while the law theoretically aimed to integrate financially marginalized groups, it was “imbalanced” in practice. This, he said, reinforced the need to establish a postal bank to restore balance in favor of individuals not covered by banking services.
Objective: Integrating The Unbanked Through The Postal Network
The postal bank would primarily target individuals excluded from traditional banking services, with the goal of integrating them into the formal financial system.
The initiative relies on Tunisia’s extensive postal network, which is present across all regions, including urban areas, rural communities, and inland regions.
Targeted beneficiaries include:
Artisans
Small manufacturers
Self-employed workers
These groups are considered among those most in need of accessible and tailored financial services.
Comprehensive Banking Services Beyond Savings
The MP stressed that the postal bank would not be limited to savings accounts but would provide “all banking services,” with the ambition of integrating artisans and other professionals into the formal economic cycle.
Among its core objectives is the provision of simplified and accessible guarantees, while ensuring debt recovery “without excess” and without imposing heavy collateral requirements.
According to the draft text, when granting loans, the bank would request only the minimum guarantees necessary to ensure its sustainability and secure repayment.
Low-Cost Bank Card And Preferential Services
The proposed model includes issuing a dedicated bank card for financially vulnerable groups at a symbolic fee, in line with principles of solidarity and social justice.
Beneficiaries would also have access to:
Preferentially priced services
Certain services offered free of charge
All in compliance with the Central Bank’s circulars and recommendations governing the marketing and pricing of financial products and services.
No Additional Cost To The State
Mohamed Zied El Maher denied that the creation of the postal bank would impose any additional burden on the State, emphasizing that the project is based on leveraging and upgrading existing post offices “without any additional costs.”
Core Missions Of The Postal Bank
According to the draft law, the main missions of the postal bank would include:
*Opening current and savings accounts
*Providing payment and money transfer services
*Granting soft loans with reduced guarantees to vulnerable groups
*Managing cash and electronic currency operations
*Fully replacing the financial services currently provided by the Tunisian Post
*60 Million Dinars Capital And 1.8 Million Tunisians Concerned
The proposed capital of the postal bank is estimated at 60 million dinars, distributed over four years.
The MP indicated that around 1.8 million Tunisians currently hold savings accounts with the Tunisian Post. The new bank would offer this segment broader banking services.
In terms of financing, the postal bank could provide small loans similar to those offered by microfinance institutions, with amounts reaching 20,000 dinars or 40,000 dinars.
1,050 Post Offices To Expand Nationwide Coverage
The project would rely on a network of more than 1,050 post offices spread across the entire national territory, particularly in rural areas.
This infrastructure would enable the provision of expanded banking services, moving beyond traditional savings toward lending and support for small development projects.
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