DUSHANBE, January 5, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s savings bank, Amonatbonk, has launched the third phase of the program to introduce the pension payment card system in the country.

During the third phase, pensioners in the cities of Norak, Vahdat, Yovon, Tursunzoda, Khujand, Isfara, Taboshar, Istaravshan and Khorog will be provided with the pension payment cards, bringing the total number of pensioners using the pension payment cards from 59,000 to 168,000, the source said.

164 pension payment terminals now operate across the country and upon the completion of the third phase of the pension payment card system program, the number of such terminals will increase to 245.

Amonatbonk is the only state-owned bank in Tajikistan.  It is one of the oldest in the country (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, 69 branches and nearly 500 agencies. This gives the institution a presence in the most remote mountainous parts of the country.