To accept card payments online, an Armenian business signs an internet acquiring agreement with a bank and connects the bank's VPOS to its site. Here is what the bank asks for, what it costs, how long it takes, and what the integration involves.
Sign an internet acquiring agreement with an Armenian bank to access its VPOS. It lets you accept Visa, Mastercard and ArCa cards.
Add Idram under a separate merchant agreement if your customers use the wallet.
Connect each one to your website yourself, or use a checkout that already combines them.
What you need before you apply.
A company or sole proprietor registered in Armenia.
An account at the bank that will provide the VPOS.
A working website or app that meets the bank's requirements, on a domain you control.
What the bank checks on your website.
The bank reviews the site before it activates payments. Ameriabank's terms list what it must show.
An About us section and your contact details: address, phone and email.
Full descriptions of what you sell, with real prices in AMD.
Delivery terms, including any limits on delivery outside Armenia.
Return and refund terms.
A privacy policy.
The logos of the card schemes you accept.
An encrypted connection (HTTPS) with a valid certificate.
What it costs and how long it takes.
Fees
Ameriabank's published rates are 1.5% for ArCa cards, 2.7% for Visa and Mastercard cards from ArCa member banks, and 3% for Visa and Mastercard cards from other banks, charged on each transaction. The terms a merchant agrees with the bank may differ.
Activation
The bank issues your VPOS credentials within 10 banking days of signing the agreement, provided its checks raise no objection.
Payouts
Money from card payments reaches your account within 5 banking days of each transaction being confirmed.
The payment methods to offer.
Cards
Visa, Mastercard and ArCa, Armenia's domestic card scheme, all come through the bank VPOS.
The bank VPOS and Idram each have their own credentials, API and test setup.
Each confirms a payment in its own way, so your server needs separate handling for each.
A plain bank VPOS sends the customer to the bank's page to pay and relies on them coming back to your site.
Lynq puts cards, Apple Pay and Idram into one checkout on your own page, with one API and one signed webhook.
From agreement to first payment.
Apply
Sign with your bank
Request internet acquiring (VPOS) from your bank and bring your website up to its requirements.
Build
Build in test mode
Create a Lynq account and integrate the checkout with test keys while the bank reviews your application.
Launch
Connect and go live
Enter the VPOS credentials in the Lynq dashboard and switch to live keys.
Frequently asked questions
Can a sole proprietor accept online payments in Armenia?
Yes. Ameriabank's terms cover both legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who are resident in Armenia and customers of the bank.
How much does it cost to accept card payments online in Armenia?
It depends on your bank. Ameriabank publishes 1.5% for ArCa cards, 2.7% for Visa and Mastercard cards from ArCa member banks, and 3% for Visa and Mastercard cards from other banks, per transaction. The terms a merchant agrees with the bank may differ.
How long does it take to start accepting payments?
Ameriabank issues VPOS credentials within 10 banking days of signing. You can build and test the integration on your side in parallel.
Can I price in dollars or euros?
Prices on the site must be shown in AMD, and under Ameriabank's terms payments made in Armenia are charged in AMD only.
Can I add a fee for paying by card?
No. Ameriabank's terms don't allow extra charges for card payments compared with other payment methods.
Fees and timelines are Ameriabank's published terms, effective October 27, 2026. An individual merchant's agreed terms may differ, and other banks set their own, so confirm the current terms with your bank.
Start in test mode today.
Your test keys are ready as soon as you sign up. Build and test now; connect your bank VPOS when live payments become available.
