Kazakhstan bank Centercredit expands cards business familiarizing itself with Russian market of payment cards

/Kazakhstan today, February 24, 03/ - Kazakhstan bank CenterCredit has issued microprocessor-based card of Russian payment system "Gold Crown", having become the first bank, which has started issuing and servicing cards of this system in Kazakhstan. About it was informed in the bank's press-service. As is stated in the message, bank CenterCredit, being a participant of the payment system Visa International, intends to expand its card business, familiarizing itself with Russian market of payment cards. The bank's first payment card was issued in May of 2001. By January 1 of 2003 it issued about 15 th. payment cards VISA for 1.5 years of presence at Kazakhstan cards market. Number of transactions on payment cards VISA in comparison with 2001 increased 14 times as much and exceeded 131 th. Volume of transactions on payment cards equaled to more than KZT2.6 bn, including 58.9 m in trade terminals. The bank, having obtained in May of 2002 status of Associated member of Visa International, made significant investments into the infrastructure: there were set 16 cash dispensers, 136 POS-terminals, 76 imprinters. "Gold crown" is the largest Russian interbank payment system, which services plastic cards of 160 banks from 72 regions of Russia. It comprises more than 7 th. trade enterprises, 430 cash dispensers and 1150 cash giving offices. The system "Gold crown" becomes international. Cash giving offices are in the Ukraine, Kirgizstan, Armenia, Moldova and China. As was commented in the bank, its decision to issue and service cards of Russian payment system was caused by striving for expanding the range of rendered services for clients, which had business relations with managing subjects of Russia, and also for private lients. At present holders of cards "Gold crown" can receive cash and fill up the cards in the bank's Petropavlovsk branch. However, was informed in the press-service, the bank's nearest plans comprise organization of servicing cards "Gold crown" in the whole bank's branch network, which comprises 19 branches and 61 cash settlement offices in 29 cities and settlements of Kazakhstan. On the first stage of this project realization till the end of 2003 it's planned to increase total number of cards up to 1 th. units by means of joining the bank's branches in Uralsk, Kostanai, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kokshetau and Almaty. Bank CenterCredit OJSC has long-term rating on banking deposits in foreign currency Ва2 from rating agency Moody's Investors Service. [2003-02-24]