Kyrgyzstan's Bakai Bank, Doscredobank suspend servicing Mir cards

BISHKEK. Oct 18 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan's Bakai Bank and Doscredobank have stopped servicing the cards of Russian payment system Mir, the banks said on their websites.

"Servicing of the cards of [National Payment Card System (NPCS)] Mir at the bank's machines is being temporarily suspended. Servicing of Visa and Elcard cards continues to work normally. The resumption of servicing of NPCS Mir cards at the bank's machines will be announced at a later date," Bakai Bank said. The decision went into effect on October 17.

Doscredobank also suspended servicing of Mir cards as of Monday. "Acceptance and servicing of NPCS Mir cards in the bank's acquiring network is being suspended," the lender said.

Kyrgyzstan's Kompanion Bank made a similar announcement earlier. Other banks in the country have not yet made any announcements about working with Mir cards in the current circumstances. Kyrgyzstan's banking system, which has 23 commercial banks, has been working with Mir cards since 2019.

The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan told Interfax that the country's authorities are devoting a great deal of attention to developing cashless payments, but banks decide on their own whether or not to work with a given payment system.

"Under the law on the payment system of the Kyrgyz Republic, the National Bank regulates the activities of payment systems in the country to ensure the efficiency, reliability and security of their operation. Commercial banks, as independent participants of payment systems, decide what system to work with in line with the requirements of Kyrgyzstan's regulations and assess the risks of working with payment systems," the National Bank said.

Bakai Bank, which secured its banking license in 1998, provides financial services in all regions of Kyrgyzstan through a network of 127 branches and divisions.

Doscredobank, founded in 1997, has nine divisions across the country and 34 branches.