Thursday, June 23 2022 16:09

ArmInfo. A non-cash payment method cannot lead to an increase in the cost of goods or services. Business entities do not have the right to discriminate against persons paying  by bank transfer. chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Martin  Gastyan stated this on June 23 at a government meeting, answering the  question of tPrime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol  Pashinyan, whether Armenia is ready to switch to non-cash  transactions, exceeding 300 thousand drams from July 1.

According to the head of the Central Bank, as a result of an  agreement with the government, at this stage, payment through payment  terminals, if transferred immediately to the company's account, is  also considered a non-cash transaction. For example, from July 1,  payment for all types of medical services provided in medical  institutions can be made on the spot in cash through a payment  terminal, and the money will be transferred to the bank account of a  medical institution. <At this stage, the state also recognizes such  operations as non-cash transactions. In the future, if we see that  opportunities are expanding, people are already accustomed to  non-cash, card payments, we will reconsider this issue," Galstyan  said.

Touching upon POS-terminals, and problems with increasing the  functionality of POS-terminals at cash registers, the head of the  Central Bank noted that "by and large, the issue has been resolved."  <At this stage, banks have assumed the costs of obtaining licenses  and activating cash registers. We have reached an agreement with  banks to minimize the burden on the business of paying for the  maintenance of such devices. For example, if in rural areas the  volume of trade is insignificant, an economic entity will pay the  bank only 1,000 drams per month for servicing the terminal, in  Yerevan, of course, it will be higher>, Galstyan said.

The problem is that there are approximately 50,000 cash registers on  which you need to install the appropriate pos-module. The process  will be carried out as quickly as possible, he assured. Taxpayers  will have to apply to commercial banks, purchase a new device with a  built-in pos, or install a pos module on their cash registers.

As the head of the Regulator pointed out, in all settlements of the  country there should be at least one store, one payment terminal  where you can make non-cash purchases. This is necessary so that  pensioners and people receiving benefits, when paying with a bank  card, can use the 10% cashback, which also comes into force from July  1. By today's decision, the government also provided this group of  the population with the opportunity to pay utility bills not only  through ATMs, but also through the electronic (mobile banking)  application of the bank.