POS card payments on public buses remain uncertain due to high bank fees, POS costs, and the lack of internet connectivity on buses. Banks have confirmed card commissions and related fees, while operators are seeking talks with state institutions and the Municipality of Tirana on possible cost coverage.
Albania: High Costs and Connectivity Issues Stall Card Payments on Tirana Buses
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Albania
Author: Ljubica Blagojević
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Content accuracy validation date:
25.06.2026
Content accuracy validation time:
08:22h
The main obstacles are the additional costs linked to bank commissions, POS terminal installation and maintenance, as well as the technical requirements for operating the service, especially the need to provide internet connectivity on buses.
The National Association of Urban Transport had previously sent a letter to second-tier banks requesting details on installation fees, maintenance costs, transaction commissions, and the possibility of preferential tariffs for the public transport sector.
According to the association, some banks have started responding and have confirmed the previously announced fee levels. These include commissions of up to 2.70% for domestic VISA/MasterCard transactions and up to 3.20% for international cards, a fixed fee of 30 lek / EUR 0.30 per transaction, a POS installation fee of 5,000 lek, monthly maintenance and non-use fees of 1,000 lek, terminal costs of up to 50,000 lek in certain contractual cases, and a 500 lek chargeback fee per case.
Banks have also confirmed that the service requires a mobile network connection, through SIM card or Wi-Fi, to allow secure data transmission and real-time transaction processing. This remains a concern because buses currently do not have the necessary internet infrastructure.
Kostandin Foni, President of the National Association of Urban Transport, stated that once responses from all 13 banks operating in the country are received, the association will request detailed service terms and organise a roundtable with state institutions and the Municipality of Tirana. The goal will be to discuss how the cost of bank commissions for card-based ticket payments could be covered.
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