A major clash is brewing between the Albanian government’s digitalization drive and the economic reality of daily commuters. Following a directive from the General Directorate of Taxes (DPT), all businesses conducting cash sales—including urban and intercity public transport operators—must be equipped with POS/POI terminals for electronic payments.
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| A bus on the "ring" line in Tirana, near the intersection at the "Palace of Arrows", Tirana, June, 2025 |
However, the Albanian Transport Association has issued a sharp warning: unless the government steps in to subsidize the infrastructure or regulate banking fees, the cost of a standard bus ticket could shoot up by an extra 30 Lekë whenever a commuter decides to pay by card.
The Math Behind the Inflation: High Banking Commissions
The Transport Association emphasizes that while they support formalization and modernization, implementing cashless payments on a moving city bus involves massive technical and financial challenges. Public transport relies on a high volume of small, low-value transactions. Under the current banking structures in Albania, forcing POS payments on these small amounts triggers devastating hidden costs.
According to a formal letter sent by the Association to state institutions, the breakdown of bank fees for every POS transaction makes cheap tickets financially unviable for operators:
| Type of Fee / Commission | Cost Structure Imposed by Banks |
| Fixed Fee Per Transaction | 30 Lekë (0.30 EUR) flat fee |
| National Card Commission (Visa/MasterCard) | Up to 2.70% per transaction |
| International Card Commission | Up to 3.20% per transaction |
| POS Terminal Installation Fee | 5,000 Lekë |
| Monthly Maintenance Fee | 1,000 Lekë per month |
| Non-use Penalty Fee | 1,000 Lekë per month |
| Physical POS Device Cost | Up to 50,000 Lekë in contractual cases |
| Chargeback Fee (Disputes) | 500 Lekë per case |
Given that a standard urban bus ticket in cities like Tirana costs 40 Lekë, adding a 30 Lekë flat banking fee plus percentage commissions almost doubles the cost of the transaction. Transport operators argue that they cannot absorb these losses, meaning the burden will either directly penalize the citizens' wallets or completely bankrupt the transport lines.
Unanswered Questions: Who Pays for the Digital Transition?
The Transport Association has demanded immediate clarification from the government on several key points before the deadline. Most importantly, they want to know who will cover these extra costs: the private operators, the citizens, or will the state provide a direct subsidy?
Furthermore, the industry is pointing out a lack of coordination. Instead of forcing every bus conductor to carry a standard commercial POS terminal meant for retail shops, operators are asking why Albania lacks a unified electronic payment model for public transport. Modern European cities utilize specialized transit networks such as:
- Unified city electronic transit cards
- QR code scanning via mobile apps
- Monthly digital subscription passes integrated into a single municipal system
Monopolization Fears and Lack of Infrastructure
Compounding the problem is the state of infrastructure. Transport representatives point out that conditions at many national terminals and rural bus stations are severely lacking. There is an absence of digital connectivity, making the smooth rollout of wireless POS devices highly unstable.
Additionally, operators have voiced concerns over a potential monopolization of the digital ticketing market if the tech infrastructure is handed over to a single, centralized private entity, rather than allowing open competition for tech firms to develop affordable mobile solutions for transport companies.
Conclusion
The rush toward a cashless economy in Albania is hitting a roadblock of practical economics. If the General Directorate of Taxes enforces the mandate without addressing the high transaction fees dictated by commercial banks, the public transit sector faces a massive crisis. Come June 1, commuters may find that going green and digital comes with a heavy, unfair premium.
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