Global online payment system PayPal may extend its services in Russia with the help of the Russian Post, the country’s state-run postal operator, using prepaid cards for the system’s electronic accounts, Kommersant business daily reported on Monday.
PayPal views Russian Post as possible provider for PayPal’s services in Russia thanks to its extensive branch chain, PayPal Vice President Lauren Le Mole said.
PayPal and Russian Post have discussed issuing prepaid cards to pay for purchases on e-Bay and other online stores. Card balances may be settled using PayPal electronic accounts. Customers will also be able to use such prepaid cards in the same was as credit cards, Russian Post’s financial department head Vyacheslav Avdyukov told the paper.
PayPal, owned by eBay, which partially launched its services in Russia last March, became available for Russian users in October 2011. Russian clients can only put money on accounts in American banks however, but U.S. banks require proof of local residence or a social security number.