Total card numbers have risen rapidly, approaching 126 million during 2009, equivalent to almost 0.9 cards per capita.
Most cards are issued under Ōsalary schemesÕ and are primarily used for cash acquisition. Rapid growth in credit card issuance, though affected by the financial crisis, is resuming as confidence returns.
Sberbank, the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation, dominates the retail banking market. Historically a promoter of its proprietary Sbercard, it now appears focused on expanding issuance of MasterCard and Visa cards.
Foreign-owned banks account for 26% of the banking sectorÕs equity, but none is a major retail player. UniCredit, Raiffeisen, Sociˇtˇ Gˇnˇrale (Rosbank) have the biggest western-owned networks. |