Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 10 / Trend , N.Ismayilova/
Number of plastic cards at the Azerbaijani Azericard processing centre increased by 37.5 percent and amounted to 3.3 million cards in 2008, the centre said.
In 2008, some 900,000 cards were issued and 450,000 of them are pension, 273,000 - VISA and 217,000 - MasterCard. More than 1 million cards were issued n 2007.
"So far, 2.1 million of pension cards have been issued, but it is impossible to forecast their further growth, as it depends on subjective reasons," Azericard said.
Averagely, growth of emission of pension cards amounts to 100,000 each year, the centre said.
A general turnover on all cards reached roughly 4 billion manats.
Some 27 banks-participants of Azericard of 30 banks were certified at this or that monetary system or at several ones simultaneously.
The processing centre issued 24-hour Call Center for client services in January 2008. Certification on MasterCard Chip finished in late 2007. Azericard jointly with the International Bank of Azerbaijan issued American Express cards in May 2008.Moreover, loyalty program was introduced at the centre.
"Clients of banks which joined this program can get bonuses when paying through plastic cards and participate in different preferable and discount programs," Azericard said.
On Feb.10, the official exchange rate is 0.8077 manat to $1.
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