Russian Central Bank intends to introduce Mir cards in payment systems of EEU member countries

ArmInfo. The Central Bank of Russia may broaden the agreement on interaction of the national system of payment cards with the payment systems of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, Vladimir Komlev, Chairman of the Board of JSC "National System of Payment Cards", says in an interview with Izvestia.  

Komlev says that the issue is being discussed with the payment systems of Belarus (BelCard), Armenia (ArCa), Kazakhstan (Tengri card) and Kyrgyzstan (Elcard). "The negotiations with the Armenian payment system have already entered the practical phase. We are going to discuss and create road maps with the payment systems of other countries as well," he says.   

In November 2016, the National System of Payment Cards is going to hold a meeting with representatives of the national systems and national banks of the EEU member states.  

"Each payment system has its own tariff policy. If we speak of integration, there should be a single tariff policy," Komlev says.

To note, the agreement of intent between CJSC "Armenian Card" (operator of ArCa payment system) and JSC "National System of Payment Cards" (operator of Mir payment system) was signed on 3 June 2016.  The document envisages mutual servicing of the ArCa and Mir cards in the payment infrastructures of their participants.     

To recall, creation of the Armenian Card (ArCa) national payment system in March 2000 marked the beginning of development of the Armenian market of banking cards. The Central Bank of Armenia was the initiator. Armenian Card presents service package which gives an opportunity to banks to issue and acquire ArCa, MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Diners Club International cards using the modern technics, technologies and software of the processing centre as well as the Company's professional assistance. The company is MasterCard Europe Principal Member and Processing Centre (Member Service Provider), third Party Processor for VISA, third Party Processor for American Express, third Party Processor for Diners Club International. As of today shareholders of Armenian Card are CBA and 17 commercial banks of Armenia. By the end of 2014 Armenian Card announced about introduction of 3D Secure technology. The majority shareholder of Armenian Card is the Central Bank of Armenia.  The other shareholders are ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank, Armeconombank and Ardshinbank, whose stakes exceed 2%, and the remaining banks hold a 2% stake each.

According to the Analytical Bulletin "Armenian Banks in Card Business" by the Agency of Rating Marketing Information (ArmInfo), by 1 July 2016 the Armenian market of plastic cards had 1.8 mln cards, including 784.2 thsd mln Visa cards (45%), 534.4 thsd ArCa cards (30%), 392.2 thsd MasterCards (22%).  Other international cards (HSBC, American Express, Diners Club) constituted 3% (45.5 thsd cards).In Jan- Jun 2016 the amount of transactions with plastic cards totaled 655.5 bln AMD, including 85.7 bln AMD noncash card operations. As of 1 July 2016, there were 6630 POS-terminals and 1511 ATMs in Armenia.