Payments

Kurdistan deploys ATMs to support payments

Photo: Adobe Stock

October 19, 2026

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Kurdistan has deployed close to 800 ATMs at more than 200 locations to allow employees, pensioners and others to receive cash via the Kurdistan Regional Government's My Account program, according to a report by Kurdistan 24.

The strategic program, launched by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to modernize banking services and reduce reliance on cash, has registered 1.14 million beneficiaries. Of those, nearly 1.07 million have received bank cards, and roughly 1.02 million currently collect their pay through the system.

Erbil leads the region with 422,000 digital salary recipients, followed by Sulaimani with 372,000, Duhok with 197,000, and Halabja with 25,000.

The initiative covers about 400,000 civilian employees, 313,000 pensioners, 238,000 security personnel, and 65,000 families of martyrs. Participation has grown steadily in recent months, rising from 836,000 beneficiaries in June to more than 1 million in September.

Beneficiaries can withdraw cash from ATMs or use their cards at electronic payment terminals. Officials noted that enrollment and infrastructure expansion remain ongoing to bring remaining registered users into the system.

Payments