Five Russian banks that have been sanctioned over Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine will no longer support payment services like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Customers banking with VTB Group, Sovcombank, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, and Otkritie, will no longer be able to pay with these cards for products and services sold online from countries supporting the sanctions
However, standard contact or contactless payments by these cards will be wholly available all over Russia.
Some sanctioned Russian banks are also facing issues with the Apple Store and Google Store due to their involvement with decisions over Ukraine’s Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic.
Customers in Russia banking with the sanctioned banks will not be able to use their bank cards internationally or make payments online to any company registered in countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia.
Apple reportedly removed mobile apps by the sanctioned Promsvyazbank on Wednesday, with at least three apps being removed from the App Store. Google reportedly removed the bank’s main application from its store as well.
Apple CEO Tim Cook condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine in a tweet on Thursday, saying the company would be supporting local humanitarian efforts.
Apple does not operate any retail stores in Ukraine but works with a number of authorized resellers and has supporting staff in the country. The company also recently set up its first office in Russia after the country demanded a physical presence from companies wishing to operate on Russian soil.
In a statement, the Bank of Russia said:
All customer funds of all banks held in accounts linked to cards are preserved and available to clients at any time.
Cards issued by the banks sanctioned by Western countries also operate and will operate across Russia without restrictions. Customer funds in card-linked accounts are kept safe and fully available.
Clients of the sanctioned banks (VTB Group banks, Sovcombank, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Otkritie) will be unable to pay by cards of these banks outside Russia and use them to pay for services in online shops and service aggregators registered in the countries supporting the sanctions.
