Card payments remain in stable increase for eight consecutive years in Moldova

Chisinau, 11 February /MOLDPRES/ – The market of non-cash transactions performed in the country with cards issued in Moldova increased in 2018 by almost MDL 2.2 billion as compared to 2017 and reached a record up to MDL 07 billion. It is the largest increase of card payments to commercial networks, filling stations and other service units registered ever, according to data from the National Bank of Moldova (BNM).  

The payments with electronic payment instruments increased by 45 per cent in 2018 compared to 2017 and reached a record 13.7 per cent of total card transactions in Moldova conducted in the country. It is the eighth consecutive year when the card payments in commercial networks and other service units grow strongly, well above the market average. The Moldovans made purchases in the country and paid for POS terminals totalling MDL 07 billion, almost seven times more than six years ago.

Nearly half of the card transactions issued in Moldova made in the country were non – cash payments.

A total of 18,188 POS terminals installed in shops, filling stations and other services or trade units are at the disposal of owners of over 1.93 million cards in circulation at the end of 2018. Only in 2018 year, there were installed about 1,600 new terminals.

The data of BNM indicate that the value of card transactions issued in Moldova in the country amounted to a total of MDL 51.9 billion, compared to MDL 44.89 billion in previous year. The abroad transactions which were carried out by Moldovan cardholders amounted to MDL 5.9 billion, out of which 88 per cent of the total transactions were non – cash payments.

On the other hand, the strangers or Moldovans which have cards issued abroad spent about MDL 7.2 billion in Moldova in 2018, compared with MDL 6.7 billion in 2017.