Banks Given 6 Months to Adopt Universal QR Code
A universal QR code (operated by the National Payment Card System, the System for Fast Payments operator, and 'Mir' cards) allows accepting all types of payments, including bank pay-services, SBP, installment services, and in the future - the digital ruble.
Consensus
- The Central Bank of Russia has established a transition period until March 1, 2017, during which it will not impose sanctions on credit institutions for not using the universal payment QR code.
- The universal payment QR code (УПК) will be mandatory starting September 1, 2026.
- The National Payment System (NСПК) is designated as the sole operator of the universal QR code.
- The universal QR code will support payments via bank payment services, the System of Fast Payments (СБП), installment services, and eventually the digital ruble.
- The transition period is intended to allow time for technical preparation by financial institutions.
Points of divergence
- The Central Bank approved the standard for universal QR codes on February 10, 2025, defining four types: payer's details, recipient's details, payer's payment link, and recipient's payment link. — vedomosti
- The federal law № 248-FZ on the universal QR code was signed on July 23, 2025. — vedomosti
- The law on the mandatory use of the universal QR code is linked to the phased introduction of the digital ruble. — komersant
- The law referenced in the context of the universal QR code is Federal Law 161-FZ 'On the National Payment System'. — interfax
Coverage (3 sources)
- Central Bank: banks have six months to implement a unified QR code — Ведомости
- Central Bank gives banks six months to implement payments with a single QR code — Коммерсантъ
- Russian banks granted six months to ensure payments with a unified QR code — Интерфакс