T-Bank clients can now pay with their iPhones without an internet connection. The bank implemented the contactless payment technology via Bluetooth, based on the "Vzhukh" service, in cooperation with partners, a representative of the credit institution told "Vedomosti".
Currently, the function works on Sberbank's biometric terminals. This became possible because "Vzhukh" transmits transaction data over a secure Bluetooth channel, not requiring a constant network connection. The smartphone generates a payment token, the terminal reads it and sends a request to processing from its side.
By the end of the first half of 2026, T-Bank plans to expand coverage: offline payment support will appear on the bank's own terminals, as well as on Alfa-Bank's equipment. This will allow clients to use the function in a much larger number of retail outlets.
According to the bank, since its launch, iPhone users have made over 45 million transactions via Bluetooth payment, totaling approximately 31 billion rubles. The average check was about 670 rubles – an indicator typical for everyday purchases in "local" stores and on public transport.
The technology reduces dependence on connection quality, speeds up the payment process, and increases the overall fault tolerance of the system. Security is ensured through data tokenization and two-way authentication between the device and the terminal.
In the future, the bank does not rule out adapting the solution for other platforms and devices, but specific dates and partners have not yet been disclosed.
