/IRBIS, February 6, 03/ - National Bank, in its press-release, which was devoted to the current market situation, has characterized the republic's payment cards market in 2002.

The press-release says that during the past year number of cards in circulation increased by 22.7% (to 1,495.9 th. cards), including local - by 6.6% (to 247.1 th. cards), international - by 26.5% (to 1,248.8 th. cards).

Volume of transactions with using payment cards in 2002 was KZT251.0 bn, 3.8% payments of that number were made in trade terminals and 96.2% for cash giving. In comparison with 2001 volume of transactions with payment cards usage increased by 74.6%, also through in terminals by 65.6% and cash giving by 74.9%.

According to the National Bank's data in 2002 there were made 21 m transactions with payment cards usage (more by 48.7% than in 2001), of them 2.8% - in trade terminals (growth by 44.9%).

Despite the rather large volume of transactions with payment cards usage in trade terminals, volume of such the transactions remains extremely low, - National Bank considers. The problem of cashless settlements increasing and, in particular, expansion of the sphere of cards usage as means of settlement for goods or services is still relevant. In order to solve this problem the National Bank has developed by the Resolution of the Government dated July 2 of 2002 #713 approved the Program of development of the National interbank system of payment cards on the basis of microprocessor-based cards. Realization of this Program will allow to introduce on governmental level new information technologies in retail payment systems, accumulate in the banking system significant volumes of finance in order to invest into real sector of economics due to transfer of large mass of cash into cashless turnover. Besides, using of microprocessor-based cards in governmental structures in order to pay budget (tax, customs) and other compulsory fees in cashless form will promote to programs of the struggle against corruption.

[2003-02-06]