New tariffs for Azerbaijan’s payment infrastructure will take effect April 1, 2027, but the charges will apply directly to banks and payment organizations rather than individual consumers, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan said.
The Central Bank issued the clarification after approving a new tariff policy for payment systems, according to Report.
The changes concern fees charged within the country’s payment infrastructure, including systems used by financial institutions to settle card and bank transactions.
Upper Fee Limits to Fall
Under the new policy, the upper tariff limit in the Azerbaijan Interbank Payment System, known as AZIPS, will be cut in half. The upper limit in the clearing system for small-value payments will be reduced by one-third, or to two-thirds of its previous level.
Charges will no longer depend on the time at which an operation is processed. Instead, fixed fees will apply within bands determined by transaction volume.
The Instant Payments System, which operates around the clock and settles transactions in real time, will carry lower tariffs than the other systems, according to APA.
Fees Apply to Financial Institutions
The Central Bank said Interbank Card Center fees are charged to participating banks and payment organizations. The new rates therefore do not apply directly to end users.
The clarification does not amount to a blanket prohibition on banks changing their own customer fees. It addresses the charges imposed by the payment infrastructure on financial institutions, rather than the separate tariffs banks may set for clients.