BPC Banking Technologies today announces a technology “first”, as its SmartVista solution has made possible a brand-new payment card for mobile operator MegaFon.

The new MasterCard-based product marks the first time that consumers in Russia will be able to make card payments from their prepaid mobile phone account.

It will make card-based payments a reality for people without bank accounts, including students, pensioners and migrant workers. At the same time it is expected to drive loyalty among MegaFon’s existing customers.

In this project, BPC is part of a partnership that also includes Round Bank and Inplat Technologies, who provide the banking license and technology partnership respectively. BPC’s SmartVista solution is at the heart of MegaFon’s new card offering, supporting card issuance and management, e-commerce and SMS banking.

The payment card can be issued as chip-based or chip & NFC product, and ordered in any MegaFon branch. The card is linked to the mobile phone balance or “wallet”, and top-up is simple as any mobile account top-up in MegaFon.

“This MegaFon and Round Bank project illustrates how our SmartVista solution can help people make payments more easily. We are happy to support this initiative as a technology partner and to help in future project development”, says Vasily Grigoriev, EVP, BPC Banking Technologies.

“There was a huge demand from our customers for more options to use their mobile accounts, to get more services. This initiative is all about how to use mobile account as your own wallet, in all senses – for online and offline payments – and even get additional benefits of a banking service”, comments Ian Kukhalsky, New Business and Partnership director, MegaFon.

“For our “bank Round” this joint project means a nice opportunity to support MegaFon in carrying out its strategy. This card combines benefits of a classic banking tool with a new type of availability for customers,” notes Irene Lupicheva, CEO “bank Round”.

“The simplicity of financial services brought to the end users often anticipates smooth integration of multiple processes, hidden inside the technology part that involved several partners. SmartVista enabled us to launch a unique system meeting all tasks and terms. We are happy to be part of the project as a technology partner and that’s a pleasure to work with BPC Banking Technologies with SmartVista as the heart of this new system,” adds Sergey Lebedev, CEO InPlat Technologies.