11/11/09 -
Global expansion of Ukash continues with launch in the Ukraine
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Ukash, which has the largest prepaid-cash issuing estate in the
world, has announced an agreement with PrivatBank to offer its fast
growing e-cash product to consumers in the Ukraine as it continues
to pursue its aim of making online shopping available to everybody,
anywhere in the world.
Ukash vouchers, which are available from 300,000 global physical
issuing points in 17 countries, provide e-commerce solutions by
allowing customers to shop, play and pay online using cash. Ukash
will be available via numerous PrivatBank channels in the Ukraine
including over the counter in 3,500 bank branches and online using
the Privat24 internet and mobile banking service.
The vouchers will also be available from nearly 6,800 ATMs and
approximately 1,800 self-service kiosks located in convenient
public areas, enabling consumers to purchase Ukash outside of
banking hours.
Founded in 1992, PrivatBank has operations in Russia, Georgia,
Latvia, Portugal and Cyprus, and is the largest commercial bank in
the Ukraine with 23% of the country's 46m population employing its
services. The Ukraine's extensive expatriate workforce will also be
able to benefit from the ability to use Ukash to spend online at
both local and international websites.
Mark Chirnside, chief executive officer, Ukash said: "We are
pleased to announce that Ukash is now available in the Ukraine, in
association with the country's biggest commercial bank, PrivatBank.
Our aim is to achieve a more socially inclusive approach to online
shopping by helping the unbanked, as well as alleviating the fear
of online fraud felt by many. We are happy to announce that
customers in the Ukraine can now shop online safely using cash, and
we feel sure that our introduction there will be as successful as
our other recent endeavours."
The alternative payment vouchers will also soon be available
from in excess of 55,000 shops in the Ukraine via PrivatBank's
network of point of sale card processing terminals, and Smart
Voucher is already working alongside PrivatBank and Skype to
facilitate the SkypeCredit program in the Ukraine.
Future plans for Ukash, which can also be obtained online in 12
countries with more to come soon, include continuing its physical
expansion into other countries in this region - starting with
Russia.
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