OREANDA-NEWS. February 09, 2011. In 2010 Uniastrum issued over 216,000 new payment cards compared with around 147,000 in the previous year. As of year-start 2011 the lender distributed more than 715,000 cards, reported the press-centre of Uniastrum Bank.

Last year Uniastrum Bank also gave out 50% more cards with planned overdraft facility than in 2009, issuing 85,000 as of January 1, 2011. Meantime, its card portfolio grew 90%, weighing in at Rb 3.35 bn. In 2010 Uniastrum’s total cardholder balance climbed 17%, totaling around Rb 2 bn as of year-start 2011.

In the same period the Bank distributed more than 132,500 payroll cards. Around 41,000 cards were issued as part of Uniastrum’s consumer credit programs. Overall, the Bank disbursed Rb 2.3 bn in consumer loans in 2010, while its consumer loan portfolio increased 76.5% to Rb 3.2 bn. Uniastrum cards offer practicality and convenience, thanks to the Bank’s state-of-the-art processing center, an extensive network of in-house ATMs and payment kiosks, which, as of January 1, 2011, numbers 782 terminals, including 678 ATMs and 104 CDMs.

The number of ATMs operated by the United Settlement System, which Uniastrum joined in 2008, currently stands at around 8,500. “Last year we ran a range of interesting initiatives for our cardholders, including package and cross-selling programs in Moscow and every city where the Bank maintains a presence. We also launched new discount programs, and honed our network of payment kiosks,” says Oleg Shvetsov, First Deputy Chairman of Uniastrum’s Management Board. “In 2011 we intend to continue rolling out this particular business segment and have our sights set on ramping up our credit card and consumer loan portfolio at least 50%.”