At a Glance

• 1.01 million Kurdistan Region public employees are set to receive August salaries digitally.
• Seven banks have provided 800 ATMs, with plans to exceed 1,000 machines.
• More than 98% of public employees have completed registration for the "My Account" project.
• More than 100,000 employees will still receive August salaries in cash due to incomplete card distribution.

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The caretaker Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Finance and Economy announced that over 1.01 million public employees are set to receive their August salaries digitally through bank cards and ATMs for the first time. The rollout represents the largest operational test yet for the Region's "My Account" salary digitalization project.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

"20,000 to 30,000 printed cards remain uncollected at banks."

The "MyAccount" administration urged employees to visit the banks where they previously received their salaries and collect their cards.

The Kurdistan Region Ministry of Finance had set August 31 as the deadline for ending cash salary payments, but more than 100,000 employees will continue receiving cash this month because their cards remain incomplete.

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Data Table

Metric	Current Status
Employees receiving August salaries digitally	1,010,000+
Participating banks	7
ATMs available	800
Planned ATMs	1,000+
Registration completion	98%+
Employees still receiving cash	100,000+
Printed cards awaiting collection	20,000–30,000
Average employees per ATM	1,262

Operational Challenge

The digital salary system is facing a major field test as 800 ATMs serve more than one million employees. The resulting average of roughly 1,262 employees per ATM could place significant pressure on banks, particularly in areas with fewer machines.

The continued use of cash for more than 100,000 employees also reflects unresolved issues involving incomplete registrations and uncollected bank cards.

FYI

The August rollout represents a major phase in the Kurdistan Regional Government's MyAccount program, launched in 2023 to move public-sector payroll from cash distribution into personal bank accounts and expand access to formal banking services. Official program data show the system has already expanded rapidly, from more than 680,000 beneficiaries receiving digital payments in January 2026 to more than 920,000 by August, while the government has been working toward banking more than one million beneficiaries.

The transition also has implications beyond salary collection. MyAccount is designed to give beneficiaries 24-hour access to cash through ATMs, electronic banking services, and other financial products, while reducing reliance on government cash distribution. The program is being implemented in coordination with the Central Bank of Iraq, with participating banks progressively expanding the ATM network; official program information currently refers to more than 1,200 ATMs being developed across the Region.

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