Gazprmbank UnionPay cards inactive in Morocco

Withdrawing money from ATMs of Moroccan banks using UnionPay cards issued by Gazprombank is no longer possible.

Similar to what has been decided in China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, UnionPay cards issued by Gazprombank, a major Russian bank, can no longer be used to withdraw money from bank ATMs. Moroccans, indicates the TASS press agency.

Since last Thursday, November 21, 2024, Gazprombank has warned its customers that using UnionPay cards abroad may encounter difficulties. This follows US sanctions against more than 50 Russian financial institutions, including Gazprombank, which led to a halt to cash withdrawals from ATMs in several countries.

These sanctions targeted Russian financial institutions using UnionPay to compensate for the shutdown of Visa and Mastercard services after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Although Gazprombank said its internal operations are not affected, its customers abroad are advised to favor cash payments, particularly due to increasing international restrictions on UnionPay cards.

UnionPay is an international payment system developed by the Chinese company of the same name. Established in 2002, UnionPay is one of the world’s largest payment card companies, with millions of cards issued in China and around the world. It is often compared to other major payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, although it is more widely used in China and some Asian countries.