Central Bank of Tunisia

The Central Bank of Tunisia, also known as Banque Centrale de Tunisie or BCT, is the nation’s monetary authority responsible for issuing the Tunisian dinar and formulating and implementing monetary policy to maintain price stability. It oversees the banking sector by supervising financial institutions, enforcing prudential regulations, and acting as a lender of last resort to safeguard the stability of the financial system. The bank manages the country’s foreign exchange reserves and conducts operations in the foreign exchange market to support the external value of the currency. It also promotes the smooth functioning of national payment systems and contributes to the development of financial infrastructure.

As the sole issuer of legal tender, the Central Bank of Tunisia holds a distinctive position within Tunisia’s economic framework, combining regulatory oversight with macroeconomic stewardship. Its mandate includes monitoring systemic risks, ensuring the soundness of credit institutions, and fostering confidence in the national currency. The institution’s role was highlighted during the 2022 cyberattack, when its security systems detected an intrusion and, in coordination with the national cybersecurity agency, contained the threat while preserving core banking data and maintaining continuity of critical financial services. A prior incident in 2016, involving a distributed denial‑of‑service attack by the hacktivist group Anonymous, demonstrated the bank’s visibility as a target within the global financial sector and its reliance on resilient online services.

Headquartered in Tunisia, the Central Bank operates as a public institution serving the Tunisian economy and engaging with international financial organisations through reserve management and cooperative arrangements. Its activities are grounded in legal statutes that define its independence in monetary policy while maintaining accountability to the state. The bank’s dual focus on safeguarding monetary stability and ensuring the integrity of the financial system underscores its central role in Tunisia’s economic governance.