Visa and MasterCard can return to Russia, but under new conditions.
The central bank allowed the return of international payment systems to the Russian market. However, Visa and MasterCard will need to re-authorize work, said Ala Bakina, director of the central bank's national payment system department.
According to her, companies lost a large market, and Russia managed to develop its own payment infrastructure during this period.
"If and when we reach this situation, we will still think about what the conditions could be in which they can work here," he noted.
At the same time, the remaining Visa and MasterCard cards that Russians have actually already work according to the rules of the Mir system. After the departure of foreign companies, they were technologically adapted to carry out local operations.
"When we hold Visa or MasterCard balances today, you are actually holding a Mir card, you just have a different skin," explained the representative of the central bank.
According to Bekina, Russians should not rush to change Visa and Mastercard cards. They still work in Israel, and banks are gradually replacing them with Mir cards when they wear out or fail.