ArmInfo. VTB Bank (Armenia) jointly with MasterCard and Eqvilibria Club has launched VTB-Air Miles MasterCardR unprecedented co-branding card in Armenia for public segment. For the first time in Armenia, one can accumulate miles by making non-cash payments. The Bank's press-office told ArmInfo a holder of VTB-Air Miles MasterCard automatically accumulates bonus miles by making any purchase both inside and outside Armenia, online or at a store, and then exchange them for free air tickets and/or other services (reservation of tables at restaurants, hotel rooms, leasing of cars etc.) available on the website: http://www.eqvilibriaclub.ru. The terms and conditions to become a VTB-Air Miles MasterCard holder: 5,900 drams annual service fee, 12,900 drams (VAT inclusive) annual fee for activation of VTB-Air Miles service.
According to the source, a cardholder accumulates 2-10 bonus miles for every 500AMD/1USD/1EUR/60RUR non- cash payment. To learn more about the bonus miles system, visit http://ru.vtb.am/retail/PaymentCards/vtb-airmails- kobrend-karta/index.php. To track your bonus miles, balance and to exchange miles for services, a cardholder just needs to register on the website http://www.eqvilibriaclub.ru and create a Personal Room. For more details about the service and tariffs, please contact VTB Bank (Armenia) by 87-87 short number, visit the official website of the bank www.vtb.am or any of the bank's branches.
"Together with our strategic partner MasterCard and Eqvilibria Club company, we are happy to present a completely new product in the market of Armenia - VTB-Air Miles MasterCard that is connected to the bonus miles service. Such services are very popular in the world and
we are sure VTB-Air Miles MasterCard will be interesting to our customers too. The bonus miles system will enable our customers to make their everyday purchases using VTB-Air Miles MasterCard and automatically accumulate bonus miles and exchange them for free air tickets at almost all the airlines and to any destinations," says Yuri Gusev, Director General - Chairman of Board, VTB Bank (Armenia).
"MasterCard products with additional promo projects are very popular in various markets and remain demanded for a long time. We are glad to see a new VTB-Air Miles MasterCard in Armenia. It was made for special customers who live an active lifestyle, travel and shop much," says Nina Villems, MasterCard Director General for Armenia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
"Eqvilibria Club's program gives an opportunity to VTB-Air Miles MasterCard holders to accumulate double miles for every spent 500AMD or 1 USD. Miles can be spent on tickets of nearly all the popular airlines, inclusive of taxes and fees. Customer support for more than 700,000 tourism services is available in the Armenian language. We are happy to see new technologies appearing in lifestyle management in Armenia. We will be supporting sustainable development of these technologies in the given region," says Arthur Atabekyan, President
of Eqvilibria International.
According to the analytical review of the "Armenian Banks in Card Business" prepared by ArmInfo news agency, VTB Bank (Armenia) issued jubilee 500 000th card in November 2015, holding the leadership in the number of active cards. As of October 1 2015, the number of the
bank's active cards grew by of 25.5%, of which Visa by 20.3% (including more than 92 thousand pension cards), on which the bank also holds the leadership. Bank, becoming a member of MasterCard almost 2 years ago, managed to release more than 25 thousand cards of the system until October 2015, taking the leading position in the top five. In terms of plastic transactions, the bank is also at the first position - more than 143 billion drams for the 9 months of 2015, with an annual growth of 19%. The Bank as of October 1, 2015, had 267 own
POS-terminals and 158 ATMs. Until 2013, VTB Bank (Armenia) issued and serviced only international Visa cards, and then in September of the same year, becoming a principal member of MasterCard international payment system, started issuing and servicing Cirrus/
Maestro, MasterCard Standard and MasterCard Gold cards. In addition, the bank also serves local ArCa cards and MasterCard Worldwide. To recall, the "Bank VTB (Armenia)" CJSC became participant of VTB international financial group in April 2004.
Currently, the second largest in Russia "VTB Bank" CJSC holds 100% of shares of VTB Bank (Armenia). The Bank is traditionally among the leaders of the Armenian banking system on the basic parameters. VTB Bank (Armenia) is the undisputed leader in coverage of the branch
network to ensure the presence of not only in the capital, but also in all regions of the country.
MasterCard Worldwide is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a family of well-known, widely- accepted payment card brands including MasterCardR, MaestroR and CirrusR and serves consumers, financial institutions, and businesses in over 210 countries and territories worldwide.
Eqvilibria Club (Vantage Club) is a pioneer in the market of lifestyle services and loyalty projects for the premium cardholders. The first projects for the largest retail banks were implemented in 2005 in the Russian market. Eqvilibria Club is an operator of lifestyle services provided by more than 700,000 suppliers worldwide.
Expert critical of compulsory medical insurance 
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