Tuesday, September 9 2014 16:15
Number of payment cards in Armenian market exceeds 1.6 mln
ArmInfo. In Q2 2014, the number of the payment cards circulating in the Armenian market rose by 2.3% to over 1.6 mln (10.3% year over year growth).
According to the Central Bank of Armenia, the number of local ArCa cards grew by 3.9% (up 0.3% versus Q1 2014), international Visa cards - by 18.2% (up 3.7% versus Q1 2014), MasterCards - by 6.3% (up 3.6% versus Q1 2014). By 1 July 2014, the number of ArCa cards totaled 566792, Visa - 702150, and MasterCard - 314564, with their shares in the total number of cards being 34.8%, 43.1% and 19.3%, respectively.
The source says that in Q2 2014 a total of 6.1 mln transactions were carried out with cards (up 16% versus Q1 2014, up 22.9% versus Q2 2013), with the total amount of the transactions being 298 mln AMD (up 15.9% versus Q1 2014, up 12.3% versus Q2 2013). In particular, 1.9 mln transactions worth 82.6 mln AMD were made up with ArCa cards, 2.7 mln transactions worth 137.2 bln AMD with Visa cards and 1.2 mln transactions worth 58 mln AMD with MasterCards, and the remaining 347.7 thsd transactions worth 20.2 mln AMD were made with other cards (mostly HSBC cards and AmEx cards)The year over year growth of MasterCard transactions rose by 40% versus Q2 2013, ArCa - by 22.1%, and Visa - by 0.1%. In Q2 2014 alone ArCa transactions grew by 21.3%, MasterCards - by 19.9% and Visa- by 13.5%.
As of 1 July 2014, there were 6959 POS-terminals in Armenia, including 719 at the head offices and branches of the banks (up 1.4% or 98 versus Q2 2013, down 0.4% or 30 versus Q1 2014). There were 1335 ATMs (up 10.1% or 122 versus Q2 2013), of which 38 were installed in Q2. The number of trade/service outlets was 6918 versus 6717 in Q2 2013. 655 of them were in the banks and their branches, and 260 at the hotels, and 3956 at trade outlets.
To recall, the majority shareholder of ArCa is the Central Bank of Armenia. Other major shareholders are ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank, Armeconombank and Ardshininvestbank. The remaining 14 commercial banks own a 2% stake each.
Expert: Electricity tariff containment in Armenia is only temporary
Political Scientist: Armenia`s withdrawal from Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to result in its dependence on Azerbaijani and Turkish markets
Artur Avetisyan: All discussions regarding the choice of a future NPP model will remain mere talk until there is a vision for strategic development
ATI.SU: Demand for international cargo transportation 30% up in Armenia
Civil Contract nominates Armen Ktoyan for Central Bank Board Member position
Armenia, France considering prospects for expanding technological cooperation