Payments Directorate General

The Payments Directorate General of Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) is responsible for managing payment systems, providing clearing and settlement services for banks, and facilitating payment transactions for the public through these systems. It also strives to enhance and further develop domestic and international payment systems for the country’s financial sector.

The Payments Directorate General ensures that the clearing and settlement of payments within the systems are performed in a fast, secure, efficient, reliable, and accessible manner for the banking sector and other users.

The directorate has played a significant role in managing domestic and international transactions. Initially known as the Cipher and Telegram Department, its modernization efforts began with DAB’s membership in the SWIFT network in 2003, followed by the establishment and implementation of the AFTS system in 2004, marking the start of digitalizing payment processes.

With the establishment and expansion of private banks, several key payment systems were introduced to facilitate interbank and national payments. These include the ACSS interbank payment system, launched in 2005; the ICPSS system, introduced in 2017; and the advanced ATS (RTGS) system, implemented in 2020. In 2023, the ACSS/ICPSS system was upgraded to enable connectivity with the Ministry of Finance and private banks. These initiatives were undertaken to ensure that Afghanistan’s payment services are fully aligned with international standards.

Vision:

To implement cutting-edge technologies and advanced payment systems that facilitate domestic and international transactions for system participants and beneficiaries, while enhancing security and strengthening Afghanistan’s financial market.

Mission:

The mission of the directorate is to establish a national payment system that operates efficiently, securely, and reliably; to develop payment systems in line with technological advancements for the interest of the public; and to provide domestic and international payment services that meet international standards for the financial sector and serve the Afghan people.

The mission further includes revising policies, regulations, procedures, and job descriptions, and enhancing payment systems, connecting bank accounts, commercial banks in the center and their provincial branches, connecting government revenue accounts to facilitate and expand electronic revenue collection in inter-bank payment systems of DAB, and resolving payment system-related technical issues in collaboration with relevant technical departments.

Structure:

The Payments Directorate General is staffed by 33 employees, with duties and responsibilities organized in one deputy directorate and two senior sections, as outlined below:

Senior Operation Section:

The section is responsible for clearing and settling electronic payments in ACSS, ICPSS, and ATS related to domestic payments, according to the decisions of the competent authorities, implementing “P” number in the ASYCUDA system of the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance, clearing and settling transactions related to currency auction,  processing received and sent international electronic messages through the SWIFT system in the accounts of DAB with correspondent banks according to the orders of the relevant departments, coordinating and reconciling electronic and cash customs transactions, reconciling and controlling inter-bank payment transactions.

Section for Technical, Planning, and Policy Development:

The section is responsible for developing the annual plan, reviewing the policies, regulations, procedures, and job descriptions, developing payment systems, serving as admin of domestic and international payment systems, connecting the commercial bank accounts with the center and their provincial branches, connecting government revenue accounts to provide facilities and increase revenue collection (customs and revenues) in electronic form through inter-bank payment systems of DAB, and addressing technical problems in payment systems in cooperation with the relevant technical departments.