Russia to Launch Unified Facial Payment System

Russia to Launch Unified Facial Payment System

Sber and NSPK Join Forces to Revolutionize Payments in Russia

Russia is set to introduce a unified facial payment system by the second half of 2025, marking a significant step in the evolution of non-card payment systems. This ambitious project is a collaboration between Sber, the country’s largest bank, and NSPK, the operator of the Mir card payment system. The initiative aims to create a standardized biometric payment network that enables interoperability across Russian banks.

Currently, both Sber and NSPK operate separate facial payment systems, but onboarding users has proven to be cumbersome. Customers must register their biometric data through specific banking apps, and interoperability is lacking, meaning Sber customers cannot use NSPK’s terminals and vice versa. The new unified system seeks to resolve these issues by allowing customers from all banks to pay at any facial terminal after registering their biometric data through any banking app.

A Roadmap for Biometric Payment Expansion

Dmitry Malykh, Senior Vice President at Sber, revealed that the roadmap for the project has already been established, with the official launch planned for late 2025. Once operational, the system will enable:

• Interoperability: Seamless facial payment transactions across all banks in Russia.

• Mass Deployment: Sber plans to equip 2 million terminals with facial recognition technology, covering 50% of banking terminals in the country.

• Ease of Access: Customers will be able to register and manage their biometric data through any participating bank’s app.

This rollout has garnered support from the Central Bank of Russia, which has noted an increasing preference for biometric payment solutions.

Transformative Use Cases for Biometric Technology

The unified facial payment system is not just about convenience; it also opens the door to innovative applications, including:

• Age Verification: Automating age checks for purchases of restricted goods.

• Seamless Check-ins: Simplifying hotel check-ins with facial recognition.

• Secure Transactions: Enhancing the security of payments and transfers by using biometric authentication.

Implications for the Future

By standardizing biometric payment systems and promoting interoperability, Russia aims to onboard millions of users and position itself as a leader in the adoption of cutting-edge payment technologies. This initiative is expected to redefine how transactions are conducted in the country, making them faster, more secure, and more accessible.