Residents and guests of Moldova’s second largest city now have the opportunity to pay for their trolleybus trip by card or phone. Cashless payments will be accepted on all urban trolleybus routes via special validators. Passengers can pay for the trip on such validator with the contactless card of any bank in the Republic of Moldova and abroad, as well as with any gadget, equipped with the contactless payment function, in the digital wallet of which the bankcard has been added. The contactless payment project for public transport in Balti was launched on October 1 with the support of Moldindconbank and Mastercard.

Alexander Picker, Chairman of the Managing Board of Moldindconbank, said at the launch ceremony that the project is in line with global trends in the development of cashless payments.

“Already now in our country we can only leave the house with our bankcard and get by without cash. To keep up with global trends of increasing cashless transactions, we are introducing contactless payment methods in public transport in Moldova’s second largest city – Balti. To pay, it is enough to bring your bankcard or gadget with contactless payment function close to the terminal. It is a very convenient and fast method of payment, which saves time and guarantees the safety of payments,” the Chairman said.

Alexander Picker mentioned that the new project in Balti was developed in partnership with Mastercard, but also with the administration of the trolleybus fleet in Balti, which on October 1 marked 50 years of activity.

“Over many years, Mastercard has been a trusted partner to more than 100 cities around the world, helping to introduce contactless payments where speed, convenience and security are essential. The aim of launching cashless payments in Balti’s trolleybuses is to make citizens’ lives more comfortable and meet their current expectations. According to our research, a third of Balti population would like to pay for their travel by card. Together with our dear partners, Moldinconbank and the administration of the Trolleybus Park, we are pleased to offer the residents and guests of the city this opportunity. We are convinced that they will appreciate this innovative cashless payment solution,” Irina Untila, Director of the Mastercard Office in Moldova said.

The director of the trolleybus fleet, Elena Maximciuc, said that the contactless payment method in trolleybuses would also allow fulfilling a condition of the EBRD, which is financing the modernization of the fleet.

“We are grateful to Moldindconbank and Mastercard for ensuring the implementation of such an important project. The partners provided us with all the equipment and technical support needed to launch the project in the city free of charge. I am sure that both employees and passengers will appreciate the convenience of the new payment method”, the Director of the trolleybus fleet said.

Guests at the project’s launch ceremony tested the new way of payment for their journey, paying both by bankcard and with a smartphone.