Primorsky Krai embraces QR and biometric payments in 2026 surge

Cashless payments in Primorsky Krai have seen a sharp rise in early 2026. More residents are now using QR codes and biometric authentication instead of traditional plastic cards. This shift marks a significant change in how people pay for goods and services in the region. In the first quarter of 2026, QR and biometric payments accounted for 39.2% of all cashless transactions in Primorsky Krai. This is up from 30.3% in the same period in 2025. The total number of such transactions reached 13.8 million, with a combined value of 19.5 billion rubles.

Overall, residents made 199.4 million bank card transactions during this time, totalling 458.5 billion rubles. The total volume of cashless transactions in the region hit 320 billion rubles, representing a 1.4-fold increase compared to early 2025. Olga Popova, head of the Payment Systems and Settlements Department at the Far Eastern Main Directorate of the Bank of Russia, linked the growth to the convenience of these methods and lower transaction fees. The rise in QR and biometric payments reflects a broader trend away from plastic cards. The region’s cashless transaction volume has grown significantly, with these new methods now making up a large share of payments. The change highlights the increasing preference for faster and cheaper digital payment options.