Requirements for banks to issue the Baraka social card

 

This page outlines the minimum technical and functional requirements for commercial banks to obtain the right to issue and service “Baraka” social cards, introduced to ensure the implementation of Presidential Decree No. PQ-267 of the Republic of Uzbekistan.These requirements cover payment infrastructure, security standards, inter-system integration, card monitoring, and customer service processes. This list is not exhaustive; additional technical terms and conditions may be established during the partnership process.

 

  1. Visa Processing. The existence of a certified, fully functional Visa processing center for the issuance (emission) and servicing of bank cards.
  2. Visa Direct Service. Full support for “Visa Direct” (Visa-to-Visa push payments) technology to enable real-time card-to-card money transfers. 
  3. Visa Flex. The capability to utilize flexible BINs (Bank Identification Numbers) and the availability of Visa Flex technology for issuing virtual cards, either linked to a physical card or as standalone accounts.
  4. National Payment System Integration. The ability to conduct seamless cross-system transfers, enabling the sending and receiving of funds between international payment systems and local networks (Humo and Uzcard).
  5. Test Environment. Provision of a dedicated test environment (Sandbox) and test data (mock PAN/BIN) to ensure a secure and rapid integration process.
  6. BIN Sponsorship. The provision of a dedicated BIN number and BIN sponsorship services based on a separate agreement within the framework of the project.
  7. Security Standard. The bank’s infrastructure must hold the highest level of certification (Level 1) under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
  8. Embossing. Availability of production capacity for the rapid printing (embossing) and personalization of large volumes of social cards, including the capability to print photos and QR codes.
  9. Call Center and Support. A 24/7 service system integrated with the “Baraka” support channel for receiving customer inquiries, with a guaranteed response time (SLA) not exceeding 2 hours.
  10. ATTO System Integration. Direct integration with the ATTO system at the Visa processing level to enable fare payments for public transportation.
  11. Logistics and Delivery. An established system for delivering finished social cards directly to the user’s residential address in any region of the Republic.
  12. VAT Refund. Integration with the State Tax Committee (STC) to facilitate VAT refunds under social programs.
  13. Funding Mechanism. Provision of mechanisms and tools for topping up social cards.
  14. Online Acquiring. Provision of an online acquiring mechanism for social cards.
  15. Secure Connectivity: Establishing inter-service connectivity via IPsec or MSPD (Interbank Data Transfer Network) tunnels.
  16. API Documentation. Provision of detailed gateway documentation in REST API format.
  17. Reconciliation and Reporting. Provision of a detailed mechanism for reconciling and reporting transactions conducted via API. We require the following format:
    1. Daily and monthly reports covering all cards and all transaction types.
    2. P2P Transfers. Person-to-person money transfers between cards.
  18. ATM Withdrawals. Cash withdrawals through automated teller machines.
    1. Testing and Commissioning
    2. Sandbox Provision. Providing a sandbox environment to test integrations.
  19. Joint UAT Testing.  Conducting joint User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
    1. Card Lifecycle Management
    2. Card Operations via API. Mechanisms for the issuance, re-issuance, blocking, and closing of social cards via API.
    3. PIN Management.  Functionality for PIN code management, including generation, changing, and resetting (unblocking) of PINs.