ARKA - Mr. Khachatryan, a unique project was launched in February 2014 in a Yerevan supermarket when a Visa card was used to make the first contactless payment in Armenia. Today Areximbank-Gazprombank Group is the only bank in the country issuing and servicing contactless Visa payWave cards. Why these cards are described as unique and what benefits their holders have?

Khachatryan- You're right, Visa payWave technology is truly unique. It allows making instant payments in all outlets equipped with contactless readers. Holders of such cards do not need to insert it into the payment terminal, to sign checks or enter PIN codes (for purchases of goods worth up to AMD 10,000). It is enough to wave it in front of a contactless reader and the payment is accepted. It is important to note that the contactless terminals of Areximbank-Gazprombank Group accept all Visa payWave cards, regardless of the issuer bank or the country in which it is issued. The fact is that Visa payWave technology is built on the use of international EMV standards for chip cards providing interoperability between cards and payment terminals in 45 countries, including Armenia's closest partners - Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia.

ARKA – In Armenia this card can be used to pay for services in shops, hotels, restaurants, buy it is not accepted by gasoline stations, public transport and taxies, which are ‘specific segments’, where this technology even technically is not easy to introduce. It is still hard to imagine a POS terminal in a taxi.

Categories: Banks @en, General news, Interviews, News | Comments Off on Armenian citizens must feel the benefits of cashless transactions

Tags: Areximbank-gazprombank group, Armenia, exclusive

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