The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan published an overview of 2025 measures and results aimed at expanding cashless payments and accelerating the uptake of innovative payment technologies under the 2024–2026 Financial Sector Development Strategy. Reported indicators show increased non-cash usage, with domestic card-based non-cash payments up 26% year on year to AZN 99.1bn and the non-cash share of domestic card transactions rising 3.4 percentage points to 67.6%. The update highlights market development steps and adoption metrics across key channels. Licensing activity in 2025 covered three electronic money institutions, two payment institutions and one operator, bringing the end-2025 totals to 17 electronic money institutions, nine payment institutions and two operators. Digital banking accounted for 94.4% of the number and 82.5% of the value of customer transfers from current accounts (59.7 million transfers totalling AZN 889.3bn), with internet-banking transfer volumes up 12.4% to AZN 308.9bn and mobile-banking volumes up 14.3% to AZN 73bn; one in two contactless POS payments was made via smart devices. Use of the 24/7 Instant Payments System (Ani Ödənişlər Sistemi, AÖS) increased sharply, with transaction count 12.5 times higher and value up 90.1% versus 2024, alongside new legal requirements for QR code payments and a requirement to apply a single nationwide AZQR code standard; QR payments via AÖS in H2 2025 rose 6.2 times by count and 7.1 times by value versus H1. The central bank also referenced a transport payments rollout in Baku enabling contactless fare payment by bank cards and mobile devices across all cashless-equipped bus routes and all Baku Metro stations, and reported rising non-cash usage on salary cards (54.2% of payments) and social cards (20%, up 9 percentage points over three years).
Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan 2026-03-12
Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan reports 2025 digital payments expansion including new licences and nationwide AZQR standard
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan reported progress in expanding cashless payments and innovative payment technologies under its 2024–2026 Financial Sector Development Strategy. Key metrics include a 26% increase in domestic card-based non-cash payments to AZN 99.1bn and a rise in the non-cash share of domestic card transactions to 67.6%. Licensing activity in 2025 added three electronic money institutions, two payment institutions, and one operator, while digital banking accounted for 94.4% of customer transfers.