Wednesday, March 23 2011 02:30
Armenian banks boost issue of MasterCard
ArmInfo. Armenian banks have significantly increased issue of MasterCard - by 80.5% by late February (over 6.7 thousand items - for Feb). Second place by the number of issues belongs to the local cards ArCa - up 45.8% per year (over 10.7 thousand cards - for Feb). Cards of the Visa International system are on the third position with 9% annual growth (9.9 thousand cards for Feb). Armenian Card told ArmInfo 27316 cards with annual growth of 35.7% were issued in general in Feb.
In the structure of active cards, MasterCard is on the top position in terms of annual growth (Feb 2011 versus Feb 2010) - 83% to 117.2 thousand cards. Visa International is on the 2nd position - 44.8% to 166.5 thousand cards. ArCa is on the third position with 6.7% to 304.7 thousand cards. Total number of active cards issued by ArCa member-banks grew 26.6% and 588.360 cards by late Feb 2011. The share of ArCa cards in total was 51.8%, Visa - 28.35 and MasterCard - 19.9%.
Armenian Card and Mastercard Worldwide held joint marketing campaigns to promote MasterCard and Masestro in Armenia in 2010 which resulted in such growth of MasterCard issue and circulation. The source reports that in average for the period under review transactions were made with 327.8 thousand cards or 63% of total active cards (up 18.1%), in particular 217.1 thousand ArCa cards with 6.7% annual growth (71% of total active cards), 99.3 thousand Visa with 40% annual growth (60% of total active cards) and 56.7 thousand MasterCard with annual growth of 36.2% (48% of total).
As of March 1 2011 the number of the commerce/service and cash dispensing points (exclusive of ATMs) operating in the ArCa system totaled 3054 (up 32.7% per year), including 343 dispensing points, 2711 commerce points (up 36.2%). There were 3542 POS-terminals (up 34.4%), including 3102 at the commerce/service points (up 38/4%) and 440 at cash-dispensing points(up 11.7%). 3315 of total POS- terminals served ArCA cards, 2012 - Visa International and 309 MasterCard. As of March 1 2011 ATMs totaled 686 (up 14.3%), including all the ATMs serve ArCa, 515 serve Visa and 606 MasterCards.
Central Bank holds 66% stake in Armenian Card amd 17 ArCa member-banks hold by 2%.
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