The first bank card made of recycled plastic appeared in Kazakhstan

10 June 2021, Almaty city – Eurasian Bank issued Kazakhstan’s first eco-card jointly with Mastercard international payment system. The eco-card, made from recycled plastic, gives everyone an opportunity to support greening and sorting waste in the country.

The bank will send 0.5% of bonuses from non-cash transactions for using the eco-card to the Eurasian Environmental Fund for eco-projects in Kazakhstan. Additionally, the bank will credit 0.5% of bonuses to the client for contactless payments through Eurasian Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. The card can be ordered from 10 June 2021 on the bank’s website eubank.kz. 

“Green” technology is becoming available to every Kazakhstani citizen. The more payments with Eco-card, the more additional funds we will allocate to environmental programs. Together with the project partners and our clients, we are happy to make a measurable contribution to improving the natural environment in Kazakhstan,” said Ivan Belokhvostokov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Eurasian Bank.

To celebrate the launch of the environmental campaign, Eurasian Bank in partnership with Eurasian Environmental Fund, Mastercard and the Office of Green Economy of Almaty planted an alley of 75 honey lime trees on June 5.

In addition to issuing the Eco-card, the bank has introduced a unique NFC poster product, through which the holder of any bank’s payment card can send one or more payments of KZT500 in one touch to implement environmental actions. The location of NFC-posters will be indicated on the website www.eef.kz.

Eurasian Environmental Fund will accumulate funds from accrued bonuses from Eco-cards and donations via NFC-posters. The funding of environmental projects by the Fund will be coordinated with the Bank. The Fund was founded by AIFC Green Finance Centre Ltd, the Biodiversity Conservation Fund and Green Investment Group LLP.

“Our mission is to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality in Kazakhstan. The Foundation intends to accumulate funds through grants as well as sponsors and voluntary donations. We intend to invest in environmental protection projects, urban greening, restoration of flora and fauna of Kazakhstan, as well as support public initiatives in the field of ecology,” said Aidar Kazybayev, Chief Executive Officer of AIFC Green Finance Centre Ltd.

The eco-card has been issued in partnership with Mastercard international payment system.

“We at Mastercard are consistently working to ensure that more and more advanced solutions are available in the region and are very pleased that the international experience in issuing eco-cards has come to Kazakhstan. The eco-card gives customers the opportunity not only to take advantage of innovative payment technologies, but also to contribute to a useful and important cause – the well-being of the environment, allowing us all to make the world a better place by doing good!” commented Rafal Trepka, Mastercard General Manager for Central Asia.

The Bank is developing an online mechanism that will allow customers to see the results of their philanthropy, track the amounts accumulated by the Foundation, as well as geolocate tree planting, installation of containers for separate waste collection.

Reference Information:

The Astana International Financial Centre was created by the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Leader of the Nation, Nur-Sultan Nazarbayev as part of the “100 steps to implement five institutional reforms” national program. The Centre’s development strategy until 2025 was approved by the Management council of the AIFC during the council’s meeting on July 2, 2020. In accordance with the strategy, the vision of AIFC is in becoming the leading financial centre in the region that includes Central Asia, the Caucasus, EAEU countries, western China, Mongolia, and Eastern Europe.

The AIFC Green Finance Centre is an AIFC Organisation created to enable the development of green finance in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The main goal is to bring investments to sustainable economy through trending financial instruments, such as green and social bonds. In addition to that, the AIFC Green Finance Centre, being a regional think-tank, provides strategic and business consulting in green finance and sustainable development to Governments, quasi-state organisations and entrepreneurs. The Centre provides initial assistance to potential issuers, investors and market players on preparations for the issuance of green bonds on the AIFC Exchange (Astana International Exchange).

Eurasian Bank is a socially important financial institution of Kazakhstan, for 26 years it has been consistently among the ten largest Kazakhstani banks in terms of assets and equity capital. Provides a wide range of services to corporate and SME clients, is one of the top 5 banks in terms of retail business, and is actively developing digital banking.

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) – is a global technology company operating in the payments industry.

Mission of the company – is to ensure safe, simple, technological and affordable transactions, to develop and strengthen the digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere. By leveraging secure data and networks, building partnerships and building on what inspires, we deliver innovation and solutions that help people, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential.

Eurasian Environmental fund – Non-profit organization was registered on May 13 of this year in the jurisdiction of the AIFC. The founders of the fund are the AIFC Green Finance Centre, the Kazakhstan Biodiversity Conservation Fund and Green Investment Group LLP.