UBA: For the first time, non-cash card transactions in Armenia  exceeded cash

ArmInfo. For the first time in Armenia, the number of non-cash card transactions exceeded the number of cash card transactions. According to the results of the first quarter of 2020, in quantitative terms, the share of non-cash card  transactions amounted to 57% of the total number of card  transactions, and the share of cash card transactions was 43%. The  Executive Director of the Union of Banks of Armenia (UBA) Seyran  Sargsyan said this on May 26 during a press conference.

As a comparison, he cited the totals of 2019, when the opposite was  observed - 52% accounted for cash transactions, and 48% for non-cash  transactions. "In previous years, the gap in favor of cash card  transactions was much larger - with a maximum in 2009 and 2010 - 89%  and 11%. And the prevalence reversal in favor of non-cash  transactions is pleasing," S. Sargsyan said.

In terms of the volume of plastic transactions, the share of non-cash  transactions increased in 2009-2020 from 7% to 30%, and cash, on the  contrary, decreased from 93% to 70%. The most active growth in non-  cash card transactions has been outlined since 2016, when they  accounted for 15% of the total volume of plastic transactions, and  the share of cash was 85%. He said that by April 1, 2020, the volume  of non-cash card transactions increased by 53.4% per annum to AMD  176.6 billion, while the growth of cash card transactions by 13.3% to  AMD 415.6 billion.

At the same time, the UBA Executive Director said that the volume of  Internet transactions grew in the I quarter by 73% per annum, and  their share in total platonic transactions reached 19%, the volume of  ATM transactions increased by 18.6% YoY and the share was 66 %, and  the volume of post-terminal transactions grew by 22% per annum and  the share was 15%. In quantitative terms, the share of Internet  transactions accounts for 33% (with annual growth of the absolute  value by 80.3%), the share of ATMs - 43% (with the annual growth of  13.3%), and the share of post-terminal - 24% ( with annual growth of  64.4%).

The average size of one transaction on a post-terminal has decreased  by April 1 of this year. up to 20498 drams, which in the context of  2009-2020 is the minimum level, against the maximum 99 694 drams in  2011 And on ATM transactions, the average size of one transaction  decreased to 51 099 drams, against the maximum 51 751 drams in 2019  and the minimum 44 605 drams in 2009. <The decrease in the average  size of one transaction suggests that cardholders began to use cards  more often as a means of payment, and more actively pay for them,  including small amounts, " stressed  S. Sargsyan.

According to the CBA, as of April 1, 2020, there were 2.5 million  plastic cards in Armenia with an annual growth of 17.5% (against  almost a similar growth a year earlier - by 17.3%). The total volume  of plastic transactions accelerated annual growth moderately from  last year's 19.2% to the current 23%, amounting to 592.2 billion  drams in the first quarter. In the Armenian plastic market, Visa's  share in the total number of cards for the first quarter of 2020  increased to 42.1%, MasterCard's share remained at 25%, ArCa's share  increased to 30.9%, and the remaining 2% was held by other  international cards (HSBC , AmEx, DC). Visa also holds a dominant  share in the total volume of plastic transactions - 47.3%, MC in  second place - 32%, in third ArCa - 19.3%, and the remaining 1.4% -  these are transactions with other international cards. As of April 1,  2020, there were 11,613 POS-terminals in Armenia, of which 766 are  located in the head offices and branches of banks. In annual terms,  the total number of POS-terminals increased by 25% or 2319 units.   There were 1544 ATMs on this date. with annual growth of 2.8% or 42  units.

It should be noted that in addition to local ArCa cards, in Armenia  international Visa, MasterCard, American Express cards, ArCa-MIR  co-branded cards are also circulated, and JCB and UnionPay cards are  served.