ArmInfo. Twelve banks have already joined the ArcaPay system, and eight have joined ArcaQR, with the majority participating in both, as stated by Vardan  Khachatryan, Chairman of the Management Board and Executive Director of Armenian Card, during a press conference He noted that banks are  currently in the integration phase for an additional ArcaPay function: B2B services for legal entities.

ArmInfo.The first co-badged Arca-UPI (UnionPay International, China UnionPay) cards will are set to launch  in Armenia within the next one to two months.  Additionally, accelerated efforts are underway to tokenize Arca cards for integration with Google Pay and Apple Pay services, as stated by  Vardan Khachatryan, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Armenian Card, during a press conference. He was responding to a  question from ArmInfo. 

ArmInfo. In the Armenian plastic card market, the launch of a cash-back program in 2026 has boosted the market penetration of Arca cards to 24–25% by June, as  stated Vardan Khachatryan, Chairman of the Board and Executive  Director of Armenian Card, during a press conference. 

ArmInfo. In the Armenian plastic card market, non-cash transactions are increasingly becoming the dominant payment method. By April 2026, their share in the total volume of transactions reached 62%, up from 56% a year earlier. In  absolute terms, this amounted to 1.2 trillion drams ($3.1 billion)  for the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the Central  Bank of Armenia.

ArmInfo. Armenia’s two largest QR payment systems, IdramNet and ArcaQR, are joining forces to enable interoperability between their networks. As a result, Idram users will now be able to make fast and convenient payments by simply scanning ArcaQR codes directly through the Idram&IDBank app.

ArmInfo.  The global economy is entering a new phase based on artificial intelligence (AI) systems, in which small countries can gain a strategic advantage if they set  the right priorities and effectively seize the moment. This was  stated by Armenian Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar  Hayrapetyan, speaking at the TEDx forum - "Vision of the Future."

ArmInfo. The 2% cashback program for purchases using ArCA cards, which launched on January 1, 2026, is being successfully implemented. RA Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan announced this in a video address.

ArmInfo.Customers making cashless purchases with AraratBank Arca cards will receive a 2% cashback on the previous month’s cashless transactions starting February.

ArmInfo. In the Armenian plastic card market, cashless transactions have exceeded cash transactions, accounting for 56% of the total volume (compared to  52.3% in 2024, 51% in 2023, and 40% in 2022), totaling 4.2 trillion drams ($11 billion) in absolute terms, according to data from the  Central Bank of Armenia.

ArmInfo. As of January 1, 2026, Armenian plastic market had over 5 million cards, with the  annual growth decreasing from 16.3% to 15.8%. Meanwhile, microprocessing cards with NFC chips experienced a slowdown in growth from 32% to 25%, totaling 4.3 million, which accounts  85% of the total number of cards, according to data from the Central Bank of  Armenia.

ArmInfo.  "This measure does not concern price regulation. It concerns cashback for non-cash purchases using ArCa National Payment System cards," Armenian Deputy Finance  Minister Edgar Mkrtchyan stated at a press conference on December 26,  answering a question from an ArmInfo correspondent about whether the  legislator has provided mechanisms to curb the rise in prices and  annual service fees for ArCa cards, given the projected increase in  the number of people wishing to purchase these cards, following the  Cabinet's adoption of a cashback program for ArCa card purchases.

ArmInfo.  On December 25, the Armenian government approved measures and procedures for cashback on non-cash transactions using ArCa National Payment System cards. Starting in 2026, cardholders will receive a 2% cashback. Pensioners  and individuals receiving benefits will also receive an additional 2%  on non-cash purchases when paying with an ArCa card, in addition to  the already established 20% cashback.

ArmInfo.  On December 25, the Armenian government will approve measures and procedures for refunding cashless payments made by individuals through the ArCa  payment system, managed by Armenian Card CJSC.

ArmInfo.  Armenian Card CJSC reports that technical issues have been detected with Armenia's internet channels, which is why some online transactions are not being certified.

ArmInfo. As of October 1, 2025, the Armenian plastic market contained over 4.7 million cards, with an annual growth rate of 15%. Moreover, the number of  microprocessing cards with NFC chips has almost doubled in three years, including a 26% year-on-year increase, reaching 3.9 million,  or 83% of the total number of cards, according to data from the Central Bank of Armenia.

ArmInfo.  The national payment system Armenian Card (ArCa) will soon start issuing  co-branded cards with the international payment systems MasterCard  and Union Pay. ArCa Technical Director Aghasi Vardanyan shared this  information during the session titled "ArCa as a Center of  Attraction" at the International PLUS Forum FinnoWay Armenia 2025.

ArmInfo. Technological digitalization in Armenia is developing steadily and  has already reached the institutional level. Deputy Chairman of the  Central Bank of Armenia Hovhannes Khachatryan told reporters during  the opening of the International PLUS Forum FinnoWay Armenia 2025.

ArmInfo.Fast, convenient and secure payments with QR codes are now available.  AraratBank is among the first banks to have joined ArcaQR. To make a payment with ArcaQR, scan the QR with AraratMobile and make an instant payment via all POS terminals of banks connected to the ArcaQR system. 

ArmInfo.Armenian Card CJSC has lunched the ArcaQR system -  a unified QR payment system  enabling  instant payments from bank accounts with a single scan, as noted in a statement issued by Armenian Card. It is  stated that the  official launch of the ArcaQR system took place on September 30,  2020, with Ardshinbank, Ameriabank, Converse Bank, Araratbank,  Evocabank, and Armeconombank immediately announced that they are  joining the system.

ArmInfo. “Armenian Card” CJSC introduced the ArcaQR system, enabling payments via QR code with a single scan, directly from a bank account.