# Refah Kargaran Bank

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/refah-iran
> research date 2026-06-01 · extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Refah — official](https://refah-bank.ir/)

## Key details

- **Launch:** 1960

## Overview

**Refah Kargaran Bank** is **Iranian commercial bank** + **Iranian Social Security Organisation ~100%+ controlling as Iranian state-aligned workers' welfare commercial bank** + **founded 1960 in Tehran Iran as Refah Kargaran Bank for Iranian workers + pensioners** <sup>[1][1], [Iran, Islamic Republic of report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IR)</sup>.

## History

**1960 — Refah Kargaran Bank founded in Tehran Iran as Iranian state-aligned workers' welfare commercial bank for Iranian workers + pensioners** distinctive Iranian welfare banking heritage.

**1979 — Refah Bank nationalised post-Iranian Revolution under Islamic Republic of Iran banking nationalisation**.

**2014 — Refah Bank Mobile banking app launch**.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Refah Kargaran Bank Bank Refah** (Iranian commercial bank).

**Major shareholders**: **Iranian Social Security Organisation ~100%+ controlling**.

**Regulators**: **Central Bank of Iran CBI Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran**.

## Technical integration

Refah Bank Mobile app (Android primary; iOS limited due to US sanctions on Apple App Store distribution in Iran) + refah-bank.ir online + Refah Bank branch network across Iran (Iranian workers + pensioners primary welfare commercial bank) + Refah Shetab cards (Iranian national card scheme); Shetab Iranian national interbank payment processing system + Shaparak QR Iranian national QR payment scheme + Iranian Rial IRR domestic transfers.

## Implementations & partners

**Major Iranian banking + payments competitors**: [Bank Melli Iran](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/melli-iran) (Bank Melli Iran BMI) + [Bank Saderat Iran](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/saderat-iran) (Bank Saderat Iran BSI) + [Bank Mellat](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mellat-iran) (Bank Mellat) + [Bank Tejarat](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/tejarat-iran) (Bank Tejarat) + [Parsian Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/parsian-iran) (Parsian Bank) + [Bank Pasargad](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/pasargad-iran) (Bank Pasargad).

**Regulators**: Central Bank of Iran CBI Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran.

## Status

**Active, Iranian commercial bank + Iranian Social Security Organisation ~100%+ controlling as Iranian state-aligned workers' welfare commercial bank + founded 1960 in Tehran Iran as Refah Kargaran Bank for Iranian workers + pensioners** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>.

## Sources

[1]: https://refah-bank.ir/ "Refah — official"
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refah_Bank "Refah — Wikipedia"
[ir-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IR

- [1] [Refah — official][1]
- [2] [Refah — Wikipedia][2]
- <sup>[Iran, Islamic Republic of report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IR)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/IR-iran.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [refah-iran.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/refah-iran). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.