DUSHANBE, April 10, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- 206 pensioners from Dushanbe, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa, Norak, Vahdat, Khujand, Isfara, Khorog and some other region now receive their pensions via plastic cards, the Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) press center reports.

The fourth program for payment of pensions via credit cards that was launched in the country on April 10 is expected to cover 102,000 pensioners in Dangahra, Sarband, Jilikul, Bokhtar, Khuroson, Roghun, Rasht, Hisor, Roudaki, Chkalov, Qairoqqum and Vanj, bringing a total number of pensioners receiving pensions via plastic cards to 308,000.

To implement this program, Amonatbonk will have to extend its chain automated bank machines (ATMs).  The bank now has 246 ATMs and it plans to establish 230 more ATMs across the country.  

Amonatbonk is the only state-owned bank.  It is one of the oldest in Tajikistan (established in 1925) and one of the largest based upon various criteria - including the number of branches and the number of served clients.  The institution is unique in its orientation towards implementing social, pension and other state programs.  Amonatbonk has 5 regional centers, more than 70 branches and 500 agencies. This gives the institution a presence in the most remote mountainous parts of the country.