Azerbaijan, Baku, April 5 / Trend I.Khalilova /
As of March 1, 2012, the number of active plastic cards issued by the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), amounted to 1,870,540 units, the press service of the bank told Trend on Thursday.
"Compared with the beginning of 2012, the number of IBA cards increased by 12,867 units," the bank said.
Number of POS-terminals installed by the bank in commercial facilities in the area of service reaches 4,025 units. Their number compared to the beginning of 2012 increased by 230 units.
"This year we are planning to intensify work on the development of non-cash payments and in connection the IBA management has recently decided to increase the number of POS-terminals and ATMs," the first deputy chairman of the IBA, Emil Mustafayev, said.
He said in the coming months the bank plans to install additional 1,000 POS-terminals under the state program to promote non-cash payments. The number of ATMs will increase from the current 653 to 800 units, "there is a task is to increase their number to 1,000". At the beginning of 2012 there were 630 units.
"It's planned to install POS-terminals in almost all points of sale, but an increase in their number is not all. Both the International Bank of Azerbaijan, and other banks should have a lot of programs that will increase people's interest in the use of cards," said Mustafayev .
He said these may be different bonus programs, forms of lending card users, bonus programs for retail outlets that they are interested to accept cards.
"Assistance of the Ministry of Taxes and Government in general is to stimulate an increase in card circulation, including at the level of tax rates," said the deputy chairman of the IBA.
Ministry of Taxes in conjunction with the Central Bank has prepared proposals for the development of non-cash payments.
International Bank of Azerbaijan was established in 1992 as the successor of the Azerbaijan branch of Vnesheconombank. IBA holds a dominant position in the banking sector of the country.