OREANDA-NEWS. December 19, 2008. Russian Standard Bank, Russia’s leading private consumer lender, and Rapida, a Russian payment systems operator, have signed an agreement to expand the capabilities of ATMs across Russian Standard Bank’s network. The new service enables all VISA, MasterCard and American Express Cardholders to pay for public utilities, mobile and landline telephone bills and Internet access through ATMs of Russian Standard Bank, reported the press-centre of Russian Standard Bank.

Russian Standard Bank’s ATM network numbers over 2,500 terminals. Over half of the bank’s ATMs already have been converted to the new payment system. The remaining ATMs will come online with the new services by the end of February 2009.

The payment system is free of charge for cardholders and is made directly from their respective card accounts. Mobile and landline payments and top-ups are made in real time. Public utility payments are processed in three working days. Payments can be made to over 50 companies. Providers can vary by region.

Payments can be made in a few easy steps from Russian Standard Bank ATMs. No registration for the payment service is required. For further information and a full list of ATMs and participating companies, please visit www.bank.rs.ru or call: 8-800-200-6-200 (inside Russia only).