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What is a debit card and how can I use it?

What should I do if the card is retained by ATM and/or PIN is blocked?

How can I get statements, their duplicates and other documents?

How can I obtain card statements, their duplicates, and other documents?

How will I communicate with Ameriabank and receive necessary information?

What is PIN and how is it set?

How long does it take for a card to activate?

What is an additional card?

 

 

What is a debit card and how can I use it?

You can use a debit card for managing and using the money in your bank account, withdrawing cash, as well as making transfers, payments, and purchases without visiting the bank. A debit card is a convenient way to get your salary and use the funds in your account.
You may open a card account in Armenian drams, US dollars, and Euros. When issuing a card, we will open a current account in AMD for you if you are not Ameriabank’s client yet. The card will be valid up to the last day of the month indicated on the front of the card.
a) you shall notify the bank in writing about your intention to terminate the card at least 10 (ten) days prior to the expiry date
b) your card has been blocked since you have outstanding liabilities to the bank
c) the bank has decided not to reissue the card.
If you forget your PIN, your card will be reissued only if you have sent a prior written notification to the bank. The card is reissued according to the then-effective tariffs.

 

What should I do if the card is retained by ATM and/or the PIN is blocked?

Your card will be retained by the ATM and/or the PIN will be blocked if you have entered your PIN incorrectly 3 times in a row. The card will also be retained by the ATM if you don't take it within 20 (twenty) seconds after it pops out,
The card may be blocked and/or swallowed if there are technical problems with the ATM or if the card is damaged.
In such cases, contact us immediately. We are available 24/7.
To unblock the card, send a respective request to the bank via Online/Mobile Banking, contact us via Phone Banking, or just visit our nearest branch.
The retained card will be returned to you within the following periods starting from the date of retention:
a. 2 (two) business days if the ATM is on the premises of our head office or any of the Yerevan-based branches
b. 4 (four) business days if the ATM is in any town where the bank has a branch
c. 10 (ten) business days if the ATM is located in any other town or place where the bank doesn't have a branch
If your card has been retained by the ATM of another bank, we will return it to you on the day we receive the card from the respective bank.
If your card has been blocked or retained abroad, contact the bank servicing the respective ATM. If your card has been retained, it will be blocked and a new card will be issued.
If our ATM swallowed your card issued by another bank, we will provide the card to you in .... business days. You may also receive the card back through an accelerated procedure.
In Yerevan or other towns with Ameriabank presence, cards are returned in 2 (two) business days for a fee of AMD 5,000 and in other communities, cards are returned in 5 (five) business days for a fee of AMD 10,000.

 

How can I obtain card statements, their duplicates, and other documents? 

You can request account statements for a period under 1 year, their duplicates, or other documents kept in electronic form at any time. They will be provided to you free of charge.
The fee for the provision of account statements over 1 year, their duplicates, or other documents kept in electronic form is AMD 5,000 per statement or document. Please note that account statements for a period under 1 year will be sent to your email without a stamp free of charge. You may receive the statements at the bank’s branches or by mail. The delivery within Armenia is free. The delivery beyond Armenia is made according to postal service bills.

 

How can I I obtain statements on account balance and account turnover? 

You can order a statement via Online/Mobile Banking or the bank’s website, as well as at any branch. Please note that you should apply for a statement at least one business day in advance. If you apply for an account statement at our branch offices, you will have to pay a fee of AMD 3,000 if you have been our account holder for 3 months or longer. If you joined us during the last 3 months, the fee for an account statement will be AMD 5,000.
If the statement is ordered online, the fee for the provision thereof will be AMD 1,000.

 

How will I communicate with Ameriabank and receive necessary information?

You have the right to communicate with the bank via the preferred channel: by regular post or email. Email is the most convenient way to obtain information. It’s available 24/7, free from the risk of loss of information stored on paper, and more confidential.
When opening an account with the bank you are required to fill in the COMMUNICATION INSTRUCTION along with other documents by specifying the preferred communication channels and means of receiving statements, certificates, and other notifications/information. You may receive the information in person by visiting the bank, by email, via Online Banking, and/or by mail.
You can modify the selected communication channel by applying to the bank or via the Online Banking system.

 

What is PIN and how is it set?

The newly ordered and re-issued cards with the PIN (unless it is generated using an OTP) are delivered within 2 business days after the application if provided at the head office or any of the Yerevan-based branches of the bank and within 7 business days if provided at the branches beyond Yerevan. If you order postal delivery of the card with the PIN, the delivery period will depend on the terms of the postal service providers.
OTP is a one-time password sent via SMS to the cardholder’s mobile phone number provided to the bank in writing. Cardholders use it to generate a card PIN and to activate the card. The PIN may be set at an ATM of any bank that is a member of the payment system of the respective card provided that such ATM is equipped with relevant technical solutions and software.
The card with the PIN will be provided to the cardholder in a manner defined between the cardholder and us in advance. In the case of reissued cards, the card with the PIN will be provided to the cardholder in a manner previously agreed upon between the cardholder and us unless the cardholder gives an instruction to the opposite on an approved template form of the bank. The cardholder will receive the card with the PIN in separate sealed envelopes. This does not apply if the cardholder generates the PIN using an OTP. In this case, the cardholder may generate the PIN on its own after it has obtained the card. If the cardholder doesn’t take the card within 60 (sixty) days following card application or re-issuance, we will be entitled to close the card and destroy it.
If the PIN is generated by the cardholder, the OTP will be sent to the mobile number that the cardholder has provided to the bank in writing. The cardholder should enter the received OTP in the respective field on the ATM screen and then input the desired PIN. If you have already selected the OTP as a way to receive your PIN, you will no longer be able to change this method.

 

How long does it take for a card to activate?

The card will be activated within the terms and in the manner specified below


  • 1 (one) business day after receipt of the card with the PIN by the cardholder, if the card is provided to the cardholder in the Bank,
  • 1 (one) business day after the cardholder has contacted us and we have verified the cardholder's identity in a proper manner, if the card is delivered by a postal/courier service, and
  • Upon successful PIN generation using an OTP by the cardholder.

 

What is an additional card?

  • The cardholder (primary cardholder) may request the bank to issue additional cards linked to the primary one in the name of the primary cardholder or another person.
  • The type of the additional card may differ from that of the Primary Card but it should be of the same or lower class. A contactless sticker may be used as an additional card.
  • Any additional card linked to a credit card will be a credit card as well.
  • No separate password will be required for the additional card. All additional card transactions that require a password should be performed by the primary cardholder using the password of the primary card.
  • If the additional card is delivered by a postal/courier service, the primary cardholder should contact the bank to confirm receipt of the card with the PIN.
  • All transactions with the additional card will be recorded with regard to the primary card account.
  • Total transactions with the primary and additional cards should not exceed the payment limit of the primary card.
  • The primary cardholder may assign a separate monthly payment limit to each additional card. All obligations deriving from the use of the primary and additional cards will be deemed the primary cardholder's obligation to the Bank.
  • We may provide the reissued additional card to the additional cardholder without any notice to the primary cardholder.
  • The additional cardholder shall notify us about the death, incapacity, insolvency, or bankruptcy of the primary cardholder and avoid using the card if such circumstances have become known to him/her.

How can I use the card safely?

What to do in case of card loss or suspicion of fraud?

 

 

How can I use the card safely?

Here are several simple but important security rules

  • Never provide the card to a third party
  • Never make the one-time password (OTP) and the PIN code available to a third party
  • Never write the PIN or OTP on the card
  • Never keep the PIN recorded and the card together
We are always ready to help you with any card-related issues. However, in order to make the use of the card safer, you should take steps to prevent the card, OTP, PIN, password, and the information on the card from being visible or otherwise accessible to others. When you enter your PIN, please make sure it is not visible to other persons and not recorded by any device.
You should be more careful with card payments at leisure and entertainment facilities. It is recommended for you to not entrust your card to other persons and not allow the use of the card out of your sight.
Do not use ATMs, cashing devices, POS terminals, and merchants you find suspicious or not reliable. Avoid paying by card if any supplementary devices, wires, adhesive tape, and other suspicious objects are connected to the merchant’s card readers, keyboard, or cash dispensing clot are linked.
Remember that it is forbidden to enter/disclose the PIN at virtual points of sale. However, if you have disclosed your PIN, immediately suspend the transaction and contact the bank in order to block your card. Online payments are protected by 3D Secure technology. When making purchases at websites that contain the Verified By Visa or Secure Code sign, you will receive an SMS with a one-time security code for each transaction. This one-time code is required to complete the transaction.

 

What to do in case of card loss or suspicion of fraud?

If the card has been lost, stolen, or used without authorization (or you suspect the said), please notify us or ArCa Processing Center immediately by any of the means below:

  • the number specified on the card, or
  • (+374 10) 56 11 11, the bank’s 24/7 hotline, or
  • (+374 10) 59 22 22 (ArCa Processing Center), or
  • cardsupport@ameriabank.am, or
  • Ameria Online Banking system during our open hours, or
  • just visit our head office or any branch during our operational hours.
We recommend blocking the card and ordering a new one in case of loss, theft, or unauthorized use. If you wish to continue using your compromised card, you should request the bank to unblock it. In such cases, any and all liability for the damages and losses you may incur due to the use of the compromised card shall be borne solely by you.
Here are several rules you should know if your card has been lost/stolen or used without authorization (or you suspect the same). You shall be liable for card transactions, which do not require authorization (including through the Internet).
You solely shall be liable for any and all card transactions performed before the loss, theft, or unauthorized use of the card (of suspicion thereof) has been properly reported to us via any channel specified above.
To ensure the possibility to challenge transactions that do not require authorization, we will place your card on the Stop List upon your request within the terms defined by the relevant payment system. The service is charged according to the Bank Tariffs.
The cardholder shall indemnify the bank against any losses and damages it may suffer due to the cardholder's failure to notify the bank of the card loss, theft, or unauthorized use, as well as due to misuse of the card by third parties before notifying the bank.
In the case of unauthorized use of the card or threat thereof, please notify the bank immediately and request to block the card.

What transactions can I perform by my Ameriabank card?

When will the amount transferred to the card become available to me?

How can I track the cash flow on my card?

 

 

What transactions can I perform by my Ameriabank card?

Unless there are restrictions on the card transactions defined by any card-specific terms and conditions, rates and fees, and/or agreements, you may perform the following card transactions:

  • deposit cash into the card via cash-in machines or in the bank
  • withdraw cash from the card via cash-dispensing ATMs or POS terminals
  • make money transfers via ATMs at our branches, at other banks, as well as via distant banking systems and ArCA online payment system
  • pay for goods and services purchased from various merchants (including online stores), without cash

The daily amount withdrawn from the ATMs of Armenia-based banks may not exceed AMD 500,000 (five hundred thousand).
We may suspend your card transactions (block the card) at our sole discretion in any of the cases below:

  • we have information or good reason to believe that the card transaction is not authentic or the card is being misused
  • you have outstanding liabilities to us
  • in other cases, as defined by the General Terms and Conditions of the Bank
The blocked card shall be unblocked by us on the same business day when we receive your written request to do so unless otherwise envisaged by the terms of service provision and the General Terms and Conditions of the Bank. If the card has been blocked at the initiative of the bank, we shall lift the block on the same day when the reasons for card blocking are discharged unless otherwise envisaged by the terms of service provision and the General Terms and Conditions of the Bank.
Accrual and charging of card service fees shall be effective during the block period.
Any transaction verified as a transaction with the use of your card shall be deemed performed under your liability.
Card transactions and refundable amounts after transaction rollbacks shall be deemed two different transactions and both shall be shown on your account statement.
You may obtain duplicates of card transaction receipts at the bank according to our Tariffs.

 

When will the amount transferred to the card become available to me?

The amount deposited into your card through the bank teller or by a transfer from a bank account to your card account normally becomes available on your online card balance within 10 (ten) minutes.
Amounts from card-to-card transfers via ATMs or ArCa Processing Center normally become available within 5 (five) minutes.
Transfers based on your payment orders submitted to the bank are processed within the terms defined by the bank’s tariffs.
Typically, all transfers from card or other bank accounts become available to the cardholder within the following terms:

  • Before 12:30 p.m., if the amount was received before 11:00 a.m. of the same business day
  • Before 4:30 PM p.m., if the amount was received before 3:00 p.m. of the same business day
  • Before 6:30 p.m., if the amount was received within the period from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. of the same business day
The amounts deposited into the card account via cash-in machines are activated on the card with immediate effect and processed to the account normally on the next business day. Cash-in ATMs may process deposit transactions with any card of the ArCa payment system irrespective of the currency.
Possibilities and restrictions of cash deposit (cash-in) ATMs with regard to the transaction amount, face value/type of the banknotes, etc. are defined by the machine service providers and/or payment systems and displayed normally on the ATM for your reference.
The transaction amount will be debited to the Card immediately and processed to the Card Account within the following terms:
  • next business day, if the transaction was performed via the ArCa system
  • within 2-3 days, if the transaction was processed beyond the ArCa system
The bank shall not be liable for any losses and damages you may incur due to interrupted or late activation of the amount on your card account. Particularly, in the case of technical issues or on the first business day of each month, it might take longer than the defined term to activate transaction amounts on your account.

 

How can I track the cash flow on my card?

You may track card transactions in a real-time mode via Online/Mobile Banking systems.
Moreover, you will be provided a card account statement before the 15th day of the next month at a frequency and in the manner agreed upon in advance. Account statements are provided both in electronic and paper form (by mail).
Please note that if you have disagreements with the statement, you should present them within 30 days, otherwise, the statement will be deemed accepted by you. If you inform us about your disagreement with statement entries in writing within the defined term, we shall handle your claim and provide a response within 90 days.
Any claims received after the specified period will be handled in accordance with the Armenian legislation, procedures defined by ArCa, VISA, and MasterCard payment systems, and/or our internal regulations.

What to do in case of disagreements with regard to card transactions?

 

What to do in case of disagreements with regard to card transactions?

If you have any objections or disagreements with regard to the card transactions, you may file a chargeback application no later than 30 (thirty) days following receipt of the statement. You should enclose supporting documents with the application and any other information we may reasonably request
You may also file a chargeback application if the transaction you have made at the merchant has been canceled but the merchant failed to return the amount of the canceled transactions within the set period or within the terms below:

  • 10 (ten) days after the transaction cancellation, if the transaction has been made in Armenia
  • 30 (thirty) days, if the transaction has been made in other countries
We shall not be liable for your card transactions, however, we'll use our best efforts to help you in resolving the issue. Failure to resolve the issue shall not release you from your liabilities to the bank. Disputing transactions made at merchants shall not be considered a complaint or a claim against the bank and our actions shall be limited to intermediation and facilitation only.
Disputing transactions made at merchants shall not be considered a complaint or a claim against the bank and our actions shall be limited to intermediation and facilitation only.
If the investigation shows that you did make the disputed transaction or the transaction is a result of a breach of card rules, you will be charged a fee pursuant to the Bank Tariffs.
We will respond to your chargeback application within the following terms:
  • 40 (forty) days after the receipt of the application, if the transaction has been made via the ArCa payment system
  • 60 (sixty) days after the receipt of the application, if the transaction has been made via international payment systems
  • 10 (ten) business days after the receipt of the application, in the case of cash withdrawal or cash deposit transactions via our ATMs (if the ATM hasn't dispensed the cash but the amount was debited to your account or you replenished your card but the amount was not credited to your account)

How and in what cases is the card closed?

 

How and in what cases is the card closed?

Subject to the terms of service provision and approved internal regulations and bylaws of the bank, we are entitled to terminate any and all card transactions (cancel the card) and close your card account in the following cases:

  • if you have outstanding liabilities arising out of the card use, which were not paid by you within 30 (thirty) or more days after the receipt of the statement containing such transactions
  • if you have other outstanding liabilities to the bank
  • in the case of decease or bankruptcy of the cardholder, based on properly documented notice thereof
  • in other cases prescribed by the terms of service provision, our General Terms and Conditions, and Armenian laws and regulations.
Please note that whenever a card is closed, all additional cards linked to it are closed too. In the case of the card closure, you shall return us the card and the card package, if any. If we close the card at our initiative, we may request you to pay all outstanding liabilities related to such a card.
You are entitled to cancel the card and close the card account at your sole discretion by giving us prior written notice and paying all card-related liabilities to the bank in full.
The additional card may be closed both by the primary cardholder and the additional cardholder.
In the case of termination of the card and/or card package before the expiry date, the charged service fee will not be refunded.
Card closure shall not terminate your outstanding liabilities to the bank, including interest and penalties accrued.
In the case of card closure, you will also be required to pay all dues under the transactions made before the closure date but reported to us after card closure. 3 (three) business days after card closure and processing of all card-related transactions to your card account, we will transfer the remaining balance on your card account to your other accounts with the bank in the following order, depending on the availability thereof:
  • current account in the same currency
  • another card account in the same currency
  • current account in Armenian drams
  • another card account in Armenian drams
  • another current account in a foreign currency
  • another card account in a foreign currency
If you don't have other accounts with us, further service of your card account shall be subject to the current account service terms and the card account will be closed only after the balance is zeroed out.

9.1 For clients who open a card account, the Bank opens a current account in AMD.

9.2 For information on the maintenance fees and conditions of servicing current accounts in AMD, please click here

9.3 If you use the card and other services under your employer’s salary project developed by the Bank, your card and banking services shall be subject to the effective preferential terms and tariffs of the relevant salary project, as from time to time amended with the agreed procedure and cases.

9.4 The details of the Card Insurance service, including the procedure and conditions of receiving the insurance coverage, are specified in the Card Insurance Terms:

9.5 Documents required for card account opening:

For Republic of Armenia citizens (residents): personal identification document, personal public service number/certificate of absence of personal public service number

For Republic of Armenia citizens (non-residents): personal identification document

For citizens of other countries who are residents of Armenia: personal identification document, personal public service number/certificate of absence of personal public service number, utility bill, certificate from the place of residence, or some other equivalent document containing the registered/actual residential address of the individual

For citizens of other countries who are not residents of Armenia: personal identification document, utility bill, certificate from the place of residence, or some other equivalent document containing the registered/actual residential address of the individual

9.6 Acting in accordance with the Republic of Armenia Law “On Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing,” we may request you to provide additional information and documents for the customer due diligence based on the “Know Your Customer” principle, as well as ask you additional questions during verbal communication (if so required).

9.7 The list of other materials and information required for card account opening is available here:

9.8 Agreements, arrangements, cooperation, or membership of the Bank may have a direct impact on the opening and servicing of client accounts (for example, according to the agreement executed with the US under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), the financial institution may collect additional information to find out whether you are a US taxpayer).

9.9 We will provide you with account statements through communication channels and at a frequency agreed upon between you and us and/or in accordance with the Armenian laws and regulations. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BANK VIA THE PREFERRED CHANNEL: BY REGULAR POST OR EMAIL. EMAIL IS THE MOST CONVENIENT WAY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION. IT’S AVAILABLE 24/7, FREE FROM THE RISK OF LOSS OF INFORMATION STORED ON PAPER, AND MORE CONFIDENTIAL.

9.10 If you don't dispute the statement thirty (30) days after the statement date, it will be deemed accepted by you.

9.11 Your right to manage the funds on the account cannot be restricted, except where (i) funds are blocked or restricted or transactions through the account are suspended in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Republic of Armenia upon the request of the Service for Compulsory Enforcement of Judicial Acts or tax authorities based on court ruling or award or (ii) this is envisaged by other agreements executed by and between you and the Bank or by the Republic of Armenia laws and regulations.

9.12 Funds on the account can be withdrawn without the client’s instruction upon the request of the Service for Compulsory Enforcement of Judicial Acts and tax authorities based on court ruling or award, as well as in cases provided for by applicable Armenian laws and agreements executed between the Bank and the client.

9.13 The remote banking terms and conditions are presented in clause 3 of the General Terms and Conditions of Provision of Banking Services to Individuals.

9.14 Repayment of the balance on the bank account, including card accounts, is guaranteed by the Deposit Guarantee Fund (location: 15 Khorenatsi St., Yerevan, 0010, Elite Plaza Business Center) in accordance with the Republic of Armenia Law “On the Guarantee of Reimbursement of Bank Deposits of Individuals”

9.15 According to the Republic of Armenia Law “On the Guarantee of Reimbursement of Bank Deposits of Individuals,” any funds available on settlement, current, time, savings, card, or other accounts with the bank are considered a bank deposit.

9.16 The guaranteed deposit amounts are as follows:

For deposits in AMD only, the guarantee coverage is AMD 16 million.

For deposits in foreign currency only, the guarantee coverage is AMD 7 million.

For deposits both in AMD and foreign currency where the AMD deposit exceeds AMD 7 million, the guarantee coverage is up to AMD 16 million for the AMD amount only

For deposits both in AMD and foreign currency where the AMD deposit amount is less than AMD 7 million, the guarantee coverage is 100% for the AMD deposit + the difference between AMD 7 million and reimbursed amount in AMD for the foreign currency deposit.

Whereupon:

All AMD deposits with the Bank are considered one AMD deposit.

All foreign currency deposits with the Bank are considered one foreign currency deposit

9.17 Any and all relations between you and the Bank not regulated by this Information Guide shall be subject to the Payment Card Terms and Conditions, General Terms and Conditions of the Bank, the Bank Tariffs, binding legal contracts between you and the Bank, as well as laws and regulations of Armenia. Where not regulated by the laws and regulations of Armenia, such relations shall be regulated by customary business practices.

9.18 In order to find out more about the service network of the Bank, location, and open hours of the branches, please follow the link: Service Network

9.19 Attention! Individuals are entitled to submit their claims arising out of the transaction between the financial institution and the consumer to the Financial System Mediator: Ameriabank has waived its right to dispute the decisions of the Financial System Mediator, which is applicable only in relation to the claims where the amount of the property claim does not exceed AMD 250,000 or its equivalent in another currency and the amount of transaction does not exceed AMD 500,000 or its equivalent in another currency

 

ATTENTION! “YOUR FINANCIAL GUIDE” IS AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AIMED AT FACILITATING SEARCHING AND COMPARISON OF THE SERVICES OFFERED TO INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS MAKING THE CHOICE EASIER FOR YOU. You may access the website at www.fininfօ.am.

Last updated on 27.10.2022