The Société d’automatisation des transactions interbancaires et de monétique (SATIM) has obtained certification from international networks Visa and Mastercard to personalize payment cards in Algeria. This development is expected to enable banks to reduce the delivery time for international cards, which currently takes several weeks. According to Toufik Chikaoui, SATIM's project director for international networks, the company's personalization center is now officially recognized by both networks.
The certification allows SATIM to locally handle card personalization and secure data processing. Previously, Algerian banks relied on foreign providers for certain operations, including card personalization, with some services provided in Tunisia. The transfer of these activities to Algeria aims to enhance national control over banking data. Chikaoui emphasizes that local data processing is a matter of "sovereignty." The move is expected to reduce card issuance times, with current processing and personalization times of two to three weeks potentially decreasing to around 48 hours.
The Algerian banks Crédit populaire d’Algérie (CPA) and Banque de développement local (BDL) have completed certification processes as part of this initiative, with other public institutions, including Banque extérieure d’Algérie (BEA), Banque nationale d’Algérie (BNA), and Banque de l’agriculture et du développement rural (BADR), preparing for pilot phases. According to SATIM, tests conducted under real conditions have yielded positive results, with cards successfully tested on ATMs, contactless payment terminals, and online payment platforms.
The implementation of this solution is expected to decrease client wait times, although the reduction is not yet effective for all clients. SATIM is currently in a pilot testing phase and has not announced a specific launch date. The CPA reports a current average wait time of two weeks for an international card, down from three weeks previously, and aims to reduce this to 48 hours using SATIM's system.
The BEA has its own personalization center and quotes a five-day preparation time for cards, although the delivery of secret codes, sent from Tunisia, can take between ten to fifteen days. The project addresses a rising demand for international payment cards, particularly since the introduction of tourist allocation devices. Algerian banks face challenges in meeting this demand while dealing with electronic component supply constraints.
To overcome these difficulties, public banks have opted to consolidate some of their orders through SATIM, streamlining stock management, reducing logistical costs, and improving card availability in the national market. This initiative also covers the use of foreign cards in Algeria, aiming to facilitate their acceptance by merchants and usage for dinar withdrawals at ATMs.
The development is part of a broader effort to enhance Algeria's financial infrastructure and improve banking services. With SATIM's certification, Algerian banks are poised to offer more efficient and secure card issuance services, aligning with international standards. The project's success could have significant implications for the country's financial sector, contributing to greater autonomy and control over banking data.
Key points
- SATIM's certification aims to reduce international card issuance times in Algeria from several weeks to 48 hours.
- The project enhances national control over banking data, aligning with Algeria's sovereignty goals.
- The initiative addresses rising demand for international payment cards and streamlines banking operations.
