Great news! Starting from March 12, 2025, VTB launched payment for purchases in Turkey using a QR code via a mobile application, and Sberbank plans to introduce this service by the end of the month.
VTB said that customers are already using this feature in shopping malls across the country, while payments are made in rubles and converted into Turkish lira without commission, with a limit of 10,000 to 350,000 rubles.
Sber also confirmed that users will be able to pay for purchases with a QR code in any retail outlet in Turkey, including cafes and restaurants. To do this, simply open the Sberbank Online application, scan the QR code and confirm the payment.
The initiative is linked to the growing interest of Russians in Turkey as a tourist destination. In 2024, Russians made 6.7 million trips to this country, which is 6.3% more than in the previous year.
In May 2024, Sberbank launched Cyberpay for commission-free payments in Turkey, and also supports QR code payments in Belarus and Tajikistan. In December 2024, VTB announced the expansion of its QR payment service abroad, which will be available in other friendly countries in 2025.
We talk in the article about how to save money in Istanbul.
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