Creating of a national payment card system (NSPK) in Russia is an important step towards building a
safe and efficient cashless payment system in the country. The development of the Russian NSPK is
relevant in the light of different approaches to the definition of its building-up principles, stages of
development, and an assessment of its economic efficiency. This article analyzes the stages of
formation and indicators of development of the national payment card system in Russia. The authors
used a method of statistical analysis, in the course of which they analyzed the data from statements of
Russian credit institutions, the national system of payment cards, as well as statistical indicators of
the Bank of Russia. In order to solve the tasks set up in the study, a comparative analysis of the main
characteristics of the national payment card systems in Russia and China was used. As a result of the
study, specific features of the development of the Russian national payment card system were
identified and the main directions for its improvement as one of the most important elements of the
national payment system of Russia were defined.