Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 15 / Trend H. Valiyev /
The issue of giving the license to Azerbaijani postal operator Azerpoct Ltd to render banking services to the population can be resolved by the end of the month, the Communications and IT Ministry Postal Department Head Novruz Mammadov told Trend .
Mammadov said this week official appeal of Azerpoct will be sent to the Central Bank of Azerbaijan.
"The appeal can be considered by the bank next week. In the extreme case, the issue of giving licenses for rendering banking services to the population can be resolved till the end of this month," Mammadov said.
Rendering of banking financial services will be possible thanks to an automated corporate information system that is fully ready for operation. At present, more than 200 post offices joined an automated system of Azerpoct. An operator conducted tenders. The contracts for the purchase and installation of appropriate technical equipment were signed. After completion of technical equipping shortly, all the post offices can join the automated corporate information system.
At the initial stage post offices will render limited banking operations, including conducting cash transactions, money transfers and the opening of client accounts, etc. Granting loans to population is envisaged in the long term.
By joining the banking market of Azerbaijan Azerpoct will demonstrate serious competition for players of the banking market. Today, about 46 banks operate on Azerbaijani banking market. The total number of branches exceeds 500, while the number of Azerpoct post offices exceeds 1,600.