Primorsky Krai embraces digital payments with record 199M transactions in Q1 2026

Residents of Primorsky Krai made nearly 199.4 million bank card transactions in the first quarter of 2026. These transactions totalled 458.5 billion rubles, with a significant portion conducted through modern payment methods. The region has seen a clear shift towards digital and cashless options. Cashless payments in Primorsky Krai reached 320 billion rubles in the first three months of 2026. Of these, 39.2% were completed using QR codes and biometric authentication, a rise of 8.9 percentage points from the same period in 2025.

The region recorded 13.8 million QR and biometric transactions, worth 19.5 billion rubles. This marks a 1.4-fold increase compared to early 2025. Olga Popova, head of the Payment Systems and Settlements Department at the Far Eastern Main Directorate of the Bank of Russia, attributed the growth to consumer convenience and lower transaction fees.

Mobile banking app usage also surged, with volumes climbing by 10% and exceeding 3 trillion rubles. Online banking transactions grew by 1.3 times during the same period. The data shows a strong preference for digital payment methods in Primorsky Krai. QR codes, biometric authentication, and mobile banking have all seen substantial growth. These trends reflect broader changes in how residents conduct financial transactions.