OREANDA-NEWS. On November 02, 2007 Alliance Bank launched a new card product – VISA Virtuon payment card. This card can be used solely for making payments in retail and service outlets, offering their products and services via Internet. The advantages of VISA Virtuon from Alliance Bank are in its accessibility for all client segments, absence of transaction commission, as well as reliable anti-fraud protection, reported the press-centre of Alliance Bank.

The decision of Alliance Bank to launch VISA Virtuon card was driven by the rate of development of Internet banking in Kazakhstan and the growing perspectives of this business. The Internet banking market analysis shows that in big cities in Kazakhstan, including Almaty and Astana, there is a significant number of clients who have experienced the advantages of distant service. Those clients are considered to be one of the main driving factors for attracting more users. Estimating high potential for the growth of customer loyalty and possibility to generate additional revenues as well as reduction of operational costs contributed to decision to launch VISA Virtuon card project.

“The idea of VISA Virtuon card is providing maximum safety of the funds of its holder and the maximum convenience and availability of this payment vehicle. Service cost of such card is one of the lowest in the market – only KZT700 with no transaction commissions,” says Alexei Yarmolkevich, Head of Card Product Department, Card Development Division of Alliance Bank.

VISA International is one of the well known payment systems worldwide. This global payment system embraces 170 countries of the world, and its partners account for more than 16,000 world leading financial institutions. Alliance Bank received the status of a principal member of VISA International payment system in November 2006. In June 2007 the Bank has proceeded to direct service of transactional operations. The product range of VISA International in Alliance Bank includes the following cards: VISA Electron, VISA Classic, VISA Business, VISA Gold, VISA Platinum, VISA Instant Issue, and now VISA Virtuon.

Alliance Bank is one of the systemically important banks in Kazakhstan with 20% share in the retail lending market. Alliance Bank has an extensive network of acquiring devices that is dynamically increasing: an example is installment of a 400th ATM. Nowadays the network of acquiring devices comprises 426 ATMs, including 194 cash-in ATMs, 138 POS-terminals in cash withdrawal points and 101 POS-terminals in outlets. The total number of cards issued by Alliance Bank amounts to 280.000. The customer base of the Bank amounts over 2 million people.