Payments by cards issued in Moldova up by almost 50 per cent in 2017

Chisinau, 14 February /MOLDPRES/ – The market of non – cash transactions carried out in Moldova with cards issued in Moldova increased by around MDL 1.6 billion in 2017 compared to 2016 and reached a record level of MDL 4.8 billion. The card payments to commercial networks, fuel stations and other service establishments in 2017 accounted for 10.8 per cent of total transactions with card issued in Moldova conducted in Moldova, the national bank’s information and media communication service has reported.

The earnings with electronic payment instruments increased by 49 per cent in 2017 compared to 2016. It is the seventh consecutive year in which card payments in commercial networks and other service units are growing considerably. The Moldovans made purchases in Moldova and paid services at POS terminals worth a total of MDL 4 billion 847 million, almost 5 times more than 5 years ago.

Four out of ten card transactions issued in Moldova conducted in Moldova were non – cash payments. Daily, there were made over 44,000 transactions on POS terminals for services or shopping.

A total of 16,609 POS terminals installed in stores, fuel stations and other service or trade units are at the disposal of owners of over 1.73 million cards in circulation at the end of the first quarter. There were installed 1,532 new terminals only in 2017.

According to the National Bank of Moldova’s (BNM) information and media communication service, the value of card transactions issued in Moldova conducted in Moldova amounted up to MDL 44.89 billion, up 17 per cent compared to 2017. The transactions abroad made by Moldovan cardholders amounted to MDL 4.7 billion, out of which 86 per cent of total transactions constituted non – cash payments.

On the other hand, the foreigners or Moldovans who have cards issued abroad spent almost MDL 6.7 billion in Moldova in 2017 compared to MDL 5.4 billion in 2016.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)