# Armenia — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AM
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **ArcaQR** is the unified QR payment system
- **ArCa Pay** instant transfer via phone number (Nov 2024)
- **Armenian Card (ArCa)** national card system
- **4 million QR transactions** in first 9 months of 2024
- **2026 cashback** incentive for local card payments

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
- **Website:** https://www.cba.am/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, payment systems regulation

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Ameriabank | Private | Ameria Mobile |
| 2 | Ardshinbank | Private | Ardshinbank App |
| 3 | Converse Bank | Private | Converse Mobile |
| 4 | Evocabank | Private | Evoca App |
| 5 | AraratBank | Private | AraratBank Mobile |

### Market Structure
- **Armenian Card (ArCa):** National payment system
- **Idram:** Leading mobile wallet
- **Telcell:** Payment network
- **Banks:** ArcaQR/ArCa Pay participants

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| ArcaQR | Armenian Card | QR Payments | Active |
| ArCa Pay | Armenian Card | Instant transfer | Active (Nov 2024) |
| ArCa | Armenian Card | Card network | Active |

### ArcaQR System
- Unified QR payment system
- Instant payments from bank accounts
- Single scan payment process
- September 30, 2024 official launch

### ArCa Pay (November 2024)
- Instant money transfers
- Phone number only required
- No banking details needed
- Lower fees than inter-card transfers

### ArCa Pay Participating Banks (Initial)
- Ameriabank
- Evocabank
- Converse Bank
- (More expected soon)

---

## QR code standards

### ArcaQR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | Armenian Card CJSC |
| **Launch** | September 30, 2024 |
| **Banks** | 6+ participating |
| **Transactions** | 4M (9 months 2024) |

### ArcaQR Features
- Unified QR payment standard
- Direct bank account payments
- Mobile banking app scanning
- Real-time settlement

### ArcaQR Participating Banks
- Ameriabank
- Ardshinbank
- Armeconombank
- Evocabank
- Converse Bank
- AraratBank

### Mobile Wallet QR
- Idram QR payments
- Telcell QR
- ~200,000 users (Idram QR in 9M 2024)
- 4 million transactions total

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Idram | Idram | Yes | Wallet, P2P |
| Telcell | Telcell | Yes | Payments |
| Bank Apps | Various | Yes | ArcaQR |
| ArCa Pay | Armenian Card | N/A | Phone transfers |

### Idram Wallet
- Leading mobile payment app
- QR code payments at stores
- 200,000 QR users (9M 2024)
- 4 million QR transactions

### Bank Mobile Apps
- ArcaQR integration
- Direct bank account payments
- Real-time QR scanning
- Interbank interoperability

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [ArcaQR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AM/arcaqr) | Unified QR | ArCa | 6+ banks | [`arcaqr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/arcaqr) |
| [ArCa Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AM/arca-pay) | Instant | Phone | 3+ banks | [`arca-pay`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/arca-pay) |
| [Idram QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AM/idram-qr) | Wallet QR | Private | 200K users | [`idram`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/idram) |

## Sources

- [BM.ge - ArCa Pay Launch](https://bm.ge/en/news/armenia-launches-new-arca-pay-system-for-instant-money-transfers-via-phone-number)
- [Armenian Card - ArCa Pay](https://old.arca.am/en/news/2024/11/11/Armenian%20Card%20introduces%20the%20ArCa%20Pay%20system/27)
- [Hetq - ArCa Pay System](https://hetq.am/en/article/170773)
- [Armenian Lawyer - Payment Processing](https://armenian-lawyer.com/business-immigration/payment-processing-armenia/)
- [ArCa Official](https://arca.am/)
- [Transfi - Armenia Payment Rails](https://www.transfi.com/blog/armenias-payment-rails-how-they-work---arca-idram-instant-transfers)
- [ARKA - Ameriabank ArcaQR](https://arka.am/en/news/business/payments-directly-from-bank-accounts-ameriabank-joins-arcaqr/)
- [Finport - 2026 Cashback](https://finport.am/full_news.php?id=55086&lang=3)
- [News.am - ArCa Pay](https://news.am/eng/news/851885.html)
- [News.am - AraratBank ArcaQR](https://news.am/eng/news/907881.html)

## Full country report

[AM-armenia.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AM)