Thursday, September 27 2012 13:51
Unibank to launch issue of VISA chip cards on Sept 10
<>ArmInfo. Unibank will launch issue of VISA chip cards on October 10 after undergoing certification to issue chip cards through its own processing center, Mesrop Hakobyan, Deputy head of Unibank Board, said in an exclusive interview with ArmInfo.
He said that Unibank issued over 117,000 payment cards as of Sept 1 2012, which is 34.4% more than at the beginning of the year. Unibank is on the fourth position in the market as to the number of plastic cards. The bank ranks the first by the growth rates of the number of local cards. Over 62,000 of the total cards issued by Unibank are VISA, with another 55,000 being local ArCa. The bank is expected to increase the total number of the cards to 150,000 till the end of the year. The number of POS-terminals will be increased from the current 437 to 530, and the bank's ATMs will make up 95 at the end of the year instead of the current 87. Unibank offers debit and credit cards of any category on favorable terms with a minimum package of documents required. The cards are designed for any consumer and salary projects. The share of credit cards in total was nearly 80% as of Sept 1 2012.
By data of ArmInfo's Analytical Review "Armenian Banks in the Card Business", Unibank is still the most active initiator of card projects in the country. It has launched a range of original card products for specific category of cardholders and popular and demanded card products of individuals. Unibank is known for its bright retail banking. The share of salary cards in total active cards of Unibank was nearly 35% as of Sept 1 2012, with a 55% growth in absolute terms. Since the launch of a pension project in March 2011 up to April 1 2012 the bank issued nearly 5,000 pension cards ArCa (4th position in the market) with nearly 50% year over year growth. The bank is on the third position by the number of POS-terminals and the fifth position by the number of ATMs. The bank has installed 14 new ATMs in the period under review.
Since 2011 ten out of twenty-one local banks have begun to issue chip cards to meet the security criteria and requirements of the regulator. However, not all the banks have launched issue of chip cards yet for lack of the necessary technologies.
Active consumer lending causes double-digit growth in bad loans 
Luys Foundation: Armenian government continues to face challenges in budget planning
Armenia`s brandy and winemaking industry in crisis - economist 
Even at embryonic stage, powerful impetus given to economic activity in energy sector - ENA acting manager 
Armenian NA OKs ENA nationalization 
China preparing to open new chapter of One Belt, One Road initiative with involvement of Armenia - diplomat 
The Merger between "Ardshinbank" CJSC and "Ardshininvestbank" CJSC Has Been Completed
Ticket packets 1.2% of total number of transport tickets in Yerevan