SBP (the Faster Payments System) is a Bank of Russia service that moves money directly from the buyer's account to the merchant's using a QR code or a payment link. Unlike a card payment, no card details are involved at all.
How a payment runs
- The merchant shows a QR code or sends a link.
- The customer scans it or opens the link — their banking app launches.
- The recipient and amount are already filled in; the customer just confirms.
- Money moves from account to account.
How it differs from a card
| Card | SBP | |
|---|---|---|
| What is involved | Card details | A bank account |
| How the customer pays | Enters number, expiry, CVC | Confirms in their own app |
| Authentication | 3-D Secure | Banking app login |
| Refunds | Through the payment scheme | As a reverse transfer |
For the buyer the main difference is that there is no long card number to type, which means fewer reasons to abandon checkout. For the merchant it means a different confirmation flow and a different refund path.
Where SBP fits best
- Payments from a phone, where entering a card is awkward.
- Offline points, cafés and delivery: the QR code can be printed or shown on a screen.
- Sales in messengers and social media, where there is no full checkout.
- Micropayments and donations, where speed matters.
What to keep in mind
SBP does not fully replace cards: some buyers are used to paying by card, and some banks may not support a given flow. The practical approach is to offer both in the same payment form rather than making the customer choose upfront.
At MulenPay, SBP carries the same rate as Russian cards — from 2.9%. See QR payments for details and pricing for the full rate list.
