Gazprombank informed clients about disconnecting cards from UnionPay

Gazprombank cards have been disconnected from the UnionPay payment system network; clients of the bank told RBC about the corresponding notification from the financial institution.

"As of November 21, Gazprombank cards have been disconnected from the UnionPay payment network. Withdrawals and purchases using these cards are not available," the notice says.

Earlier, the offer to issue such debit cards disappeared from the bank's website. Now clients are offered to issue cards of the Mir payment system. Kommersant, citing the support of the credit institution, writes about the suspension of the issuance of UnionPay cards. They stopped working in the UAE, Thailand, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Vietnam, Germany and Hungary, TASS reports .

After the start of the military operation in Ukraine and the introduction of sanctions, Gazprombank remained one of the few banks in Russia where individuals could apply for UnionPay payment system cards and use them abroad.

On November 21, Gazprombank was blacklisted by the United States (SDN, Specially Designated Nationals List) as part of large-scale sanctions against the Russian financial sector. It is included in the list of systemically important credit institutions. Since 2022, Gazprombank has been responsible for settlements for gas with importers from unfriendly countries.

Initially, the bank announced the regular operation of services, including cards of foreign payment systems, in Russia. However, later the credit institution warned clients about possible problems with Union Pay cards abroad and recommended using cash. After falling under US sanctions, UnionPay cards of other Russian banks stopped working abroad. In particular, this concerns T-Bank, MTS Bank, Primorye Bank, Bank Saint Petersburg and others.

Moscow considers Western sanctions illegal and demands that they be lifted. According to the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, a new method of payment for gas exports will be found.

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