The Bank of Russia announced preparations for the partial privatization of the National Payment Card System. The head of the regulator, Elvira Nabiullina, confirmed at the Financial Congress: a market valuation of NSPC will be conducted by the end of the year, and the deal could be closed next year. The state will retain a controlling stake – 50% plus one share, with no more than 5% going to a single entity.
The proposed deal format is a cash-out, where money for shares goes not to the company but directly to the seller, i.e., the Central Bank. Boris Listov, head of Rosselkhozbank, explained that NSPC has enough of its own profit for development, so it's about changing the ownership structure, not attracting investments. According to him, about 20 new participants could join the payment system's capital. RSHB, Sovcombank, and T-Bank have already confirmed their interest.
In addition, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation rejected the idea of creating a competitor to NSPC. Alla Bakina, Director of the National Payment System Department, stated: duplicating a working infrastructure is pointless, and any new costs would fall on end consumers.
Experts from the "Financial Innovations" association consider NSPC a clear, revenue-generating asset, attractive to foreign investors from friendly countries as well. The company has been under blocking US sanctions since 2024, but the share of Mir cards in acquiring has already exceeded 75%.
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