VivaBank wins state payment system tender in Cyprus

The government of Cyprus has awarded a contract to VivaBank to develop a new electronic payment system for state services after a four-year tender process. This project, initiated in January 2022, will integrate payments directly into the gov.cy portal, replacing the long-standing JCCsmart platform for government-related fees. The decision follows a lengthy period of legal disputes, including a final appeal filed by JCC Payment Systems on April 8, 2026, which was rejected by the tender committee on July 15, 2026. VivaBank secured the contract with a bid of approximately 4.1 million euros, outperforming JCC Payment Systems, which requested 4.97 million euros. The contract covers a term of five years and seven months, encompassing both system development and maintenance. While JCCsmart will no longer handle state payments, JCC Payment Systems will continue to operate as a provider for private sector financial services and commercial enterprises. Authorities expect the transition to the new integrated platform to be seamless for citizens paying taxes, fines, and other state dues. The delay in the process was attributed to the project's scale and various procurement challenges.