Bank Accounts for Displaced Persons from Artsakh to Be Opened Free of Charge

This week, the distribution process of 100,000 drams will begin for individuals forcibly displaced from Artsakh. Those without a bank card will need to open a bank account and present it to the Unified Social Service, which operates 24/7. This was stated by the press secretary of the Prime Minister, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, during a press briefing.

She also informed that during a meeting with the Prime Minister, specific details related to this process were clarified. She mentioned, “It is necessary to first visit any bank and open an account. There is already an agreement from the Central Bank that these accounts will be opened free of charge. Subsequently, you will transfer those card numbers to the Unified Social Service.”

Baghdasaryan added that while the process of issuing cards typically takes about a week or ten days, account openings can be done very quickly and on-site. “In other words, your money will be credited to your card account, from which you will be able to withdraw cash, and later, when your cards are issued, you will be able to withdraw other social supports from any ATM,” she explained.

Baghdasaryan also addressed a commonly asked question regarding whether the funds available to all family members could be transferred to only one family member’s bank account. The Prime Minister's press secretary denied this, emphasizing that each family member must have their own card. “The amount allocated for each citizen will be transferred to their account, that is, to their bank card account. The only exception will be for children who, at this moment, are minors. In such cases, the funds may be deposited into one of the parents’ accounts, typically the mother’s. If the mother is not available, the father or another family member can receive that amount,” she stated.

Baghdasaryan described it as a positive fact that most pension-aged individuals already possess bank cards.