Russian Standard Bank, Pochta Bank recommend UnionPay cardholders abroad withdraw cash

MOSCOW. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Russian Standard Bank and Pochta Bank, which were hit by U.S. sanctions on Thursday, have recommended that clients who are abroad withdraw cash from their UnionPay cards.

"The bank's cards of all payment systems in Russia, transfers by telephone number and card number work as usual. Transactions on UnionPay cards abroad might be suspended soon. The bank recommends clients abroad withdraw cash from cards (the bank's commission for withdrawing cash abroad on November 2-3 will be refunded)," Russian Standard Bank said.

UnionPay cards will continue to work in Russia, the bank said.

Cards from the Mir payment system work in some countries, both at stores and the ATMs of a number of banks, Russian Standard said. An updated list is available on the payment system's website.

The sanctions will also affect the use of Pochta Bank cards abroad, including UnionPay cards, so the lender also recommended that clients who are currently abroad withdraw cash on the cards.

"All Pochta Bank cards, including from foreign payment systems, continue to work at retail and service businesses, as well as bank machines throughout Russia," the bank said.

After international payment systems Visa and MasterCard left the Russian market in March 2022, the cards of China's UnionPay were expected to become an alternative for payments abroad. The payment system's website said it works in 180 countries. However, users have often complained that UnionPay cards cannot be used for payments in many places and many foreign online stores and their acquiring banks cut off all payments from cards issued in Russia.