KRG's Digital Banking Reform Reaches 1.03 Million Salary Earners
KRG's My Account program will deliver October salaries to 1.03 million beneficiaries as registration exceeds 1.1 million and the ATM network expands.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is preparing to distribute October salaries digitally to 1.03 million public-sector salary earners through its "MyAccount" program, marking another milestone in the Ninth Cabinet's effort to modernize banking services across the Kurdistan Region.
The Ministry of Finance and Economy announced that the October payment process will cover beneficiaries in all four governorates, as the initiative continues to move government salary payments into individual bank accounts.
According to the ministry's figures, Erbil accounts for the largest number of beneficiaries, with 424,000 salary earners scheduled to receive payments through the program. Sulaimani follows with 384,000, while Duhok has 197,000 and Halabja 25,000.
Together, the four figures total 1,030,000 beneficiaries scheduled to receive their October salaries electronically.
Expanding Access to Banking
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced the MyAccount program in 2023 as part of the Ninth Cabinet's program to strengthen financial inclusion and develop modern banking services.
The project is designed to give public-sector salary earners access to banking facilities through personal accounts and payment cards, reducing reliance on conventional salary distribution arrangements.
More than 1.1 million salary earners have registered so far, and over one million have received bank cards. The registration and card-distribution figures indicate the program's reach, while the October salary figures identify those covered by the latest announced payment cycle.
A broader ATM network has accompanied the expansion. Participating banks have installed nearly 800 automated teller machines across the Kurdistan Region, providing access to cash withdrawals around the clock.
The government aims to increase that number to more than 1,000 by the time the project is completed, bringing the network into line with standards set by the Central Bank of Iraq.
The expansion of banking infrastructure is a significant component of the initiative, particularly for salary earners who need convenient access to their funds after payments reach their accounts.
A Ninth Cabinet Reform
MyAccount forms part of the KRG's wider effort to make public-sector payments more accessible through the banking system and extend financial services to a larger share of the population.
With registration exceeding 1.1 million people, the October distribution covering 1.03 million beneficiaries represents a substantial step in implementing the project across Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok and Halabja.