DUSHANBE (Avesta news agency) – According to the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), at the beginning of June of this year there were circulating more than 1.72 mln payment cards in the country which represents an increase of 1.9% for the year. In the same period, transactions made through bank payment cards boosted by 26.5%.

According to the source, the total number of payment cards issued by credit institutions at the beginning of June 2018 amounted to 1.720 mln, which is 1.9% more than the same period in 2017. The total number of payment cardholders amounted to 1.69 mln people, which is 1.5% more than in the same period last year.

In Tajikistan at the beginning of June of this year, there were 670 ATMs and 3,000 850 electronic terminals used for non-cash transactions, including in trade and service enterprises when paying for goods and services.

It is noted that the number of ATMs decreased by 73 units, and the number of electronic terminals, compared to the same period in 2017, increased by 1,052 units.

During this period, payment cardholders made 8.4 mln transactions in the amount of 3.9 bln somoni, which is 26.5% more compared to the same period in 2017. The volume of non-cash transactions amounted to 180 mln somoni from the total volume of transactions using payment cards. The growth of this indicator is 30.9%.

According to the NBT, for the last year (as of the beginning of June) the number of bank accounts opened with credit institutions decreased by 3.5% and amounted to 3.2 mln. The reason is connected with the closure of accounts in banks facing problem.