UK sanctions National Payment Card System, four Russian banks

MOSCOW. Oct 15 (Interfax) - The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions against Russia's JSC National Payment Card System (NPCS), operator of Mir cards, according to a statement from the country's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation.

In addition four Russian banks - BBR Bank, Transstroibank, Solid Bank and Primsotsbank - were added to the UK sanctions list.

The NPCS has been under U.S. sanctions since February 2024. The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) warned in September 2022 that non-U.S. financial institutions, by entering into agreements with Russia's NPCS, risk being involved in actions to circumvent U.S. sanctions by expanding the territory where the Mir payment system is used beyond Russia.

As of Q2 2025, BBR Bank ranked 43rd in terms of asset size in the Interfax-100 ranking prepared by Interfax-CEA, Primsotsbank was in 45th place, Solid Bank - 116th and Transstroibank - 155th.