Wallets/idram
Idram
0 standards supported
Supported standards
This wallet supports the following visual-code standards:
Overview
Idram is Armenia's leading mobile wallet and e-money platform, operated by Idram CJSC. Founded in 2010, it is one of the earliest mobile-payment solutions in the South Caucasus and serves as a primary digital payments channel for over 200,000 users. Idram supports QR-code payments at merchants, P2P transfers, utility-bill payments, and online-checkout integration with Armenian e-commerce sites. It operates alongside the national card payment system ArCa and integrates with Armenia's instant-transfer infrastructure.
History
2010 — Idram launched as Armenia's first widely-adopted mobile wallet. The name "Idram" means "money" in Armenian (իդրամ, from the Armenian dram currency).
2015–2019 — Idram expanded its merchant network to include supermarkets, restaurants, fuel stations, and retail chains across Armenia. The platform added QR-code payments for in-store purchases.
2020–2024 — During the pandemic, Idram's usage surged as Armenians shifted from cash to contactless payments. By September 2024, Idram had approximately 200,000 active QR-payment users with 4 million QR transactions recorded. The platform also expanded into NFC tap-to-pay and online-checkout integrations.
Ownership & operator
- Idram CJSC — the operating entity, registered in Armenia.
- Regulator: Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) — supervises Idram's e-money operations and licensing.
- Idram is one of several electronic-money institutions licensed by the CBA; it is the largest by active user count among non-bank wallets.
Technical integration
QR-code payments — Idram supports QR-code payments at point-of-sale terminals. Merchants display an Idram QR code (or a shared national QR) that customers scan with the Idram app. The platform also supports dynamic QR codes for variable-amount transactions.
ArCa integration — Idram integrates with ArCa, Armenia's national card payment system, enabling interoperability between Idram wallets and ArCa-issued bank cards.
NFC tap-to-pay — Idram supports NFC payments for compatible smartphones, allowing tap-to-pay at merchants with NFC-enabled POS terminals.
Channels: Mobile app (iOS, Android), web banking dashboard at banking.idram.am.
Identifiers accepted: QR code (primary), phone number (for P2P), email address.
Users & growth
- Registered users: Approximately 200,000 active QR-payment users (as of September 2024, per Transfi).
- QR transactions: 4 million QR-code transactions recorded cumulatively through September 2024.
- Idram is the leading mobile wallet in Armenia by active users and transaction volume among non-bank wallets.
- The platform's growth has been driven by Armenia's rapid shift toward digital payments, supported by the Central Bank's push for cashless transactions.
Use cases
- Merchant payments: QR-code payments at supermarkets, restaurants, fuel stations, retail chains, and small businesses across Armenia.
- P2P transfers: Send money to other Idram users via phone number or email.
- Bill payments: Pay utility bills (electricity, gas, water), telephone/internet, TV subscriptions, parking fees, traffic-fine payments, property tax, and government payments (CES, ASWA) directly through the app.
- Online shopping: Idram is a popular checkout option for Armenian e-commerce websites.
- Bank transfers: Link Idram to ArCa-backed bank cards for topping up the wallet and transferring between wallet and bank accounts.
- Rewards: Cashback and loyalty programs with partner merchants.
Implementations & partners
- Bank partners: Integration with Armenian banks issuing ArCa-branded cards. Users can link their bank cards to top up Idram wallets or transfer funds.
- Merchant categories: Retail chains, supermarkets, restaurants, fuel stations, telcos, government agencies, online merchants.
- Card network: ArCa (domestic) — Idram integrates with the ArCa interbank network for card-linked transactions.
Fun facts
- The name "Idram" directly references the Armenian dram (AMD) currency, making it one of the few wallets named after its national currency.
- Armenia's payment ecosystem is a dual-track system where ArCa (the national card network) and Idram (the mobile wallet) operate in synergy — cardholders use ArCa cards linked to Idram, and merchants accept both card and wallet payments.
Comparison
| Feature | Idram | Telcell | ArcaQR (banks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Idram CJSC (fintech) | Telecel Armenia (telco) | Various Armenian banks |
| Type | Mobile wallet | Mobile money | Bank-led QR |
| QR payments | Yes (in-store + online) | Yes | Yes (bank-integrated) |
| P2P transfers | Yes | Yes | Via bank app |
| Bill payments | Extensive (15+ categories) | Limited | Limited |
| Users | ~200,000 QR users | Smaller | Bank-customer base |
| NFC | Yes | No | Via card |
Idram differentiates through its comprehensive bill-payment suite (15+ categories including government services), its early-mover advantage, and its deep integration with the ArCa national card network. Competing telco wallets like Telcell have smaller user bases and fewer features.
Status
Active. Idram continues to be Armenia's leading mobile wallet. It is licensed and supervised by the Central Bank of Armenia. As of 2024, the platform serves approximately 200,000 active QR-payment users and processes millions of transactions annually. The Central Bank of Armenia's push for cashless payments and instant transfers continues to drive adoption.
Sources
[1] Idram — official site — Idram CJSC, 2026. [2] Armenia's Payment Rails — Transfi — Transfi, Sep 2025. [in-cro]: AM-armenia
Source
Biography extracted from idram.md. See matrix.md for standards-support matrix if present.