ArmInfo. The accelerated growth of the number of vPOS-s, along with conventional POS-terminals, continues in Armenia. In Q1 2021, compared to the same period of 2020, the number of vPOS-s increased by 62.5% or by 1,085 items while the growth of conventional POS- terminals by 20% or by 2,313 items.
And in Q1 2021 alone, the number of vPOS-s increased by 14.6%, with an increase in ordinary POSes by 7%. According to the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia, as of April 1, 2021, there were 13926 POS terminals in Armenia, and given account of virtual POS (vPOS) 16746 ones, of which 783 are located in the head offices and branches of banks, including 71 virtual ones.
In Q1 2021, compared to the same period of 2020, the total number of POS terminals increased by 25.5% or 3398 items, against an increase of 25% or 2319 items a year earlier. Moreover, the number of POS- terminals in banks and their branches decreased on an annualized basis by 4% or 33 units, against an increase of 1.6% or 12 items a year earlier.
At this date, there were 1560 ATMs, with a y-o-y growth of 1% or 16 items, against an increase of 2.8% or 42 items a year earlier. Of these, there are 942 items in the capital, and 618 items in the regions, the y- o-y dynamics of which indicates an increase in the number of capital ATMs by 24 items and dismantling of eight regional ATMs.
It is noteworthy that the Central Bank, after a five-year (since 2015) break, resumed the publication of data from ATMs and POS-terminals installed in points of sale / service. So, in points of wholesale and retail trade (supermarkets, shops, markets) 466 ATMs and 8793 POS-terminals are installed, at catering / service facilities (hotels, restaurants, cafes, bistros) - 45 ATMs and 2669 POSes at medical service points ( hospitals, dental clinics, pharmacies) - 78 ATMs and 1407 POSes. Moreover, most of the virtual POSes are used in retail outlets and at catering / service facilities.
The Central Bank also began to indicate the number of payment terminals - 7335 items, of which 3544 are installed in the capital, and 3791 - in the regions. Moreover, only 634 items are installed in banks. Most of them are 6701 items. - payment systems were "scattered" in large shopping centers, busy streets of the capital, and in the regions.
According to the Central Bank, by April 1, 2021, there were over 2.5 million cards (with a y-o-y growth of 3.5%), and the volume of plastic transactions (taking into account transactions abroad using cards of Armenian issuing banks) in Q1 2021 amounted to 672.5 billion drams (with a y-o-y growth of 11%). The growth of plastic transactions was ensured due to the activity of transactions through virtual posses (vPOS), the share of which in the volume of non-cash transactions exceeded 61% or 134.2 billion drams (20% in the total volume of plastic transactions). This, in turn, increased the share of the volume of non-cash transactions in the total volume of plastic transactions from 30% in Q1 2020 to 32.5% (218.8 billion drams) in Q1 2021, despite a slowdown in y-o-y growth from 53.4% to 24%. The dominant in the total volume of plastic transactions is kept by cash transactions - 67.5% or 453.7 billion drams, of which 431.4 billion were made through ATMs (95% of the volume of cash transactions).
