OREANDA-NEWS.  October 10, 2012. The Russian agency RBC Rating has ranked Center-invest Bank among Russia’s top 25 banks based on the number of active plastic cards at the end of 1H 2012. Thanks to its new range of bank cards, together with excellent customer service, accessible loan products and an innovative technical platform, Center-invest Bank is one of Russia’s best regional banks for retail banking, reported the press-centre of Center-Invest Bank.  

As at 1 October 2012, 213,134 VISA International and MasterCard cards issued by Center-invest Bank were in circulation. With a coherent and balanced policy for the segment, the regional bank is continuing to strengthen its position in the bank card market.

Of all the regional banks in Russia, Center-invest Bank has traditionally had the largest number of plastic cards in circulation. The numbers of new cards issued and re-issued by the bank are also impressive. In the first 9 months of 2012 the bank issued more than 96.6 thousand new cards. Of these, 64% were cards for new customers who had chosen Center-invest Bank for its reliability and convenience.

Center-invest Bank offers a whole range of modern card products for savings accounts. The Carte Blanche card pays interest of 6% per annum on balances of more than RUR30,000, and the Gold and Platinum cards pay 7% per annum on balances of more than RUR50,000. Customers receive interest comparable to that paid out by term deposits, while also benefiting from the flexibility of a bank card.

“The bank has tariffs to suit everyone,“ says Grigory Zhukov, Chairman of the Executive Board of Center-invest Bank. “Each customer can choose the card product that best meets their needs, be that saving, paying for goods online, or making purchases on credit. The card is more than just a purse. Today, it is a universal product that you can use to manage your account and carry out numerous transactions without the need to visit a branch. For example, you can pay your tax, utility and mobile phone bills, repay loans, and transfer money between your accounts.“

It is much safer to keep money on a card than in cash. Savings can be topped up at any time by paying cash into an account at one of Center-invest Bank’s many branches in southern Russia or at one of its Moscow offices. Money can also be transferred electronically; for example, you can transfer your salary.

If you have insufficient funds on your card you will automatically receive a line of credit from the bank, without having to specify the purpose for which you require the funds. You only pay for the amount of credit you use, and once the balance has been paid off, the credit limit is restored.

Our upgraded online banking system, “Internet-Bank“, makes it easy and convenient for customers to obtain information about their card transactions. This service allows Center-invest Bank customers to issue their own virtual cards for safe online payments, to schedule payments and transfers, to top up mobile phone balances, and also to pay for utilities and any other services using the „universal payment“ function.

With the new cards “Simple Solution“ and “Motorist’s Card“ the Internet-Bank and SMS notification services are provided free-of-charge.

The bank has a 24-hour customer support line for cardholders. Calls to the support line are free of charge (8-800-2009-109).

Center-invest Bank is continuing to actively develop its cashless payments system. The bank is constantly finding new ways to make its bank cards even more convenient, offering new products and services to encourage maximum use of the card as a universal means of payment.

Center-invest Bank is the only bank in southern Russia with its own card processing centre. Employees of public sector organisations and private companies, as well as students and staff from higher education institutions in southern Russia, receive their salaries and grants on Center-invest bank cards.