**Albania’s Cash Holdings Outside the Banking System Hit Record Levels, Prompting Money‑Laundering Concerns**
*August 30, 2026 – Tirana Times*
Cash held outside Albania’s formal banking sector reached a new peak last month, according to figures reported by Albanian media. The amount was estimated at more than 522 billion lek, equivalent to roughly €5.6 billion, marking the highest level ever recorded.
The surge in cash circulation has revived concerns among officials and analysts about the size of the country’s informal economy, the potential presence of illicit funds, and the effectiveness of government initiatives aimed at channeling financial transactions into the formal banking system.
While the exact drivers of the increase were not detailed in the report, the data underscore ongoing challenges for authorities seeking to curb money‑laundering activities and improve financial transparency. The Albanian government has previously emphasized the importance of integrating cash‑intensive transactions into regulated channels, but the latest figures suggest that a substantial portion of monetary activity remains outside the banking network.
No further comment was provided by the Ministry of Finance or the Financial Intelligence Unit at the time of publication. The Tirana Times article cited the media‑reported statistics without additional verification.
Article source: tiranatimes.com | Image credit: Tirana Times
