Creation of a Postal Bank: Tunisian Parliament Opens In-Depth Debate
The Assembly of People's Representatives opened a debate on Monday, February 16, 2026, on the creation of a postal bank. The Finance and Budget Commission, meeting in a hearing, heard the proponents of the legislative initiative in a session that highlighted both the potential of the project and the structural questions it raises.
Background and Objectives
The proposal stems from a partial failure: a previous bill on combating financial exclusion was unable to succeed due to the lack of an institutional response to the problem. The idea of a postal bank has emerged as the missing link - a public operator capable of providing banking services to the fringes of the population that the private sector does not serve: people from inland regions, farmers, artisans, and modest households. The declared objective is twofold: to reduce the informal economy by integrating these categories into the formal circuit and to correct territorial imbalances exacerbated by low bank density.
Key Arguments and Infrastructure
The central argument of the promoters of the text is based on the existing infrastructure of the Tunisian Post Office: a dense geographical network, a presence in the most remote areas, and popular trust that commercial banks cannot claim. This capital of proximity and credibility constitutes, according to them, the operational basis of a model centered on microfinance, savings, and financial support for small project holders. In the long term, the ambition is to create a full-fledged digital bank, anchored in the digital transition.
Debates and Questions
The debates revealed substantial questions. Firstly, regarding financial viability: deputies demanded that the text clearly define the mechanisms for constituting capital and mobilizing own resources, so that the establishment fulfills its social mission without burdening public finances. Secondly, regarding infrastructure: several elected officials questioned the current ability of post offices to assume banking operations, calling for a prior rigorous assessment. Finally, regarding the credit model: the Commission insisted on the need to clearly distinguish between banking exclusion and financial fragility, to avoid generating a portfolio of compromised loans. Specific questions were asked about interest rates, repayment terms, and required guarantees.
Cross-Cutting Concerns and Next Steps
Two cross-cutting concerns also emerged: the absence of an explicit digitization strategy in the submitted text and the risk of duplication with the National Solidarity Bank, whose missions partially overlap with those envisioned. The question of the project's legal form was discussed throughout the exchanges. Should a banking establishment be created from scratch or should the services of the Post Office be gradually extended to banking services? Should this proposal be merged with the bill on financial exclusion to ensure legislative consistency, or should it be advanced autonomously? The proponents of the initiative indicated their preference for merging, while affirming their determination to pursue it even if it proves impossible. On the principle of competition, they were categorical: the postal bank will expand the financial offer without distorting the market and will have a margin of commercial negotiation in strict respect of the regulations in force.
The Commission decided not to conclude prematurely. It scheduled a hearing with the Central Bank of Tunisia and the concerned ministries and will constitute a working group to develop a consolidated legal draft. Field visits are also planned, starting with the Central Bank, as part of the reinforcement of the control role that the Commission intends to exercise over the entire national financial system.
