Iran Kish Credit Card Co (Kiccc)

What Iran Kish Credit Card Co (Kiccc) does

Iran Kish Credit Card Co (Kiccc) is a Tehran-headquartered, publicly listed Payment Service Provider (PSP) operating one of Iran's largest electronic payment acceptance networks. Founded in 2003 under license number 1592 in Iran's Kish Free Trade Zone and granted a PSP license by the Central Bank of Iran in September 2006, the company has been listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (ticker Rikish) since 2012. The company employs over 2,000 personnel across 39 regional offices spanning every Iranian province, including the Kish and Qeshm free-trade zones.

The technology stack centers on a proprietary payment switching platform (SWITCH) supporting POS terminals (GSM, Bluetooth, LAN, and PC-based variants), an Internet Payment Gateway (IPG), and the Pat Life mobile super-app. Pat Life integrates contactless NFC payments, QR-code payments, the Termeh digital wallet, virtual card issuance, mobile top-up, and bill payment, and serves as the deployment platform for three CBI-mandated national projects: contactless payment, digital Rial (CBDC), and Meer Shetab (national payment-switch migration). Supporting infrastructure includes multi-acquirer and multi-merchant processing, instant merchant settlement, IBAN generation, discrepancy tracking, and merchant reporting portals.

Revenue is generated through a transaction-based take-rate model on POS and IPG volumes, POS hardware sales and rental, IPG registration and maintenance fees, credit card issuance and management for partner banks, and value-added services (mobile top-up, bill payment, insurance). The go-to-market combines a direct B2B field-sales motion targeting merchants (legal entities and individuals) across Iran with a bank partnership channel serving institutions including Bank Tejarat, Bank Saderat, Bank Refah, Bank Karafarin, and Bank Middle East. Bank Tejarat is both the controlling shareholder (52.54% via Tadbirgaran Technology of Tejarat Trade IT) and the flagship commercial partner.

Name

Iran Kish Credit Card Co (Kiccc)

Legal name

شرکت کارت اعتباری ایران کیش

Website

https://irankish.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Iran Kish Credit Card Co is a CBI-licensed Iranian payment service provider operating one of the country's largest POS and internet payment gateway networks across 39 provinces, serving banks, merchants, and consumers via the Pat Life super-app and three national payment projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payment Services

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Payment Processors (PSP/Acquirer) (FSAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated POS Payments (ISVs & Vertical POS Platforms) (FSAMADAD), POS-to-Online Unified Payments (Omnichannel Payments) (CRAFALAL)

Keywords

• Payment services
• POS terminals
• Credit card processing
• Mobile payment
• Digital wallet

Headquarters

HQ city

Tehran

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices39 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Transaction/Interchange Fees: Revenue from processing electronic payment transactions through POS terminals and internet payment gateways, earning a percentage or fixed fee per transaction.
2. POS Terminal Equipment Sales and Rental: Sale and lease of POS terminal hardware devices to merchants.
3. Internet Payment Gateway (IPG) Services: Registration and maintenance of internet payment portals for e-commerce merchants, generating recurring service fees.
4. Credit Card Issuance and Management: Issuance and management of credit cards for banks and financial institutions, originally the company's founding mandate under CBI-licensed PSP operations.
5. Value-Added Services (Mobile Top-up, Bill Payment, Insurance): E-voucher sales, mobile operator recharge, bill payment processing, and insurance services through POS and mobile platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Iran Kish Credit Card Co (KICCC) is a licensed payment services provider (PSP) issuing credit cards on behalf of partner banks and deploying a full POS-terminal portfolio (GSM, Bluetooth, LAN, and PC-based) to merchants across Iran. It operates an Internet Payment Gateway (IPG) for e-commerce, the Pat Life consumer mobile application with a Termeh digital wallet, NFC contactless and QR-code payment rails, mobile top-up, bill-payment, and a proprietary MPG multi-acquirer switching platform, all under a Central Bank of Iran PSP license held since 2006.

Product overview

Iran Kish Credit Card Co operates as a licensed Payment Service Provider (PSP) offering an integrated portfolio of payment acceptance infrastructure, digital payment services, and merchant support systems. The core offering centers on POS (Point-of-Sale) terminal hardware and related software services, including GSM POS, Bluetooth POS, LAN POS, and PC POS variants with specialized options like barcode scanners and printer connectivity. The product ecosystem is anchored by the PutLife mobile application which serves as a multi-functional digital payment platform supporting QR code payments, NFC contactless transactions, and multi-wallet capabilities. Supporting services include merchant reporting portals, transaction monitoring tools, discrepancy tracking systems, IBAN generators, bill payment processing, mobile operator credit charging, installment payment services, multi-acquirer/multi-merchant aggregation, instant merchant deposits, and loyalty/discount management systems. The company also develops proprietary software including payment switching systems, business intelligence platforms, and the EMV-compliant NFC contactless payment infrastructure implemented for Bank Saderat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• پات لایف (Pat Life): Mobile application platform for payment services, digital credentials, and financial transactions
• پرداخت سبز (Pardakht Sabz)
• MPG

Products and services

• POS Terminals (GSM, Bluetooth, LAN, PC) In-house POS terminal hardware line offered in GSM, Bluetooth, LAN, and PC-based variants, deployed to merchants across Iran for in-person card and electronic payment acceptance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 30th globally among 150 payment and acceptor companies (up from rank 33) in Nilson Report
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and major.

• Bank Tejarat (Tejarat Bank)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 1390Bank Tejarat is the largest and most important banking partner of Iran Kish. The bank's representative (Amir Hossein Davodian) serves as Chairman of Iran Kish's Board of Directors. The bank is a co-sponsor in Iran Kish's capital increase and equity trust fund. Iran Kish provides PSP services, POS terminal networks, and co-branded card issuance for Bank Tejarat.
• Tafta Holding (Tashkhis-e Fa'al-e Tafahom Digital — تفتا)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTafta Holding is a technology holding company within the Tejarat Bank ecosystem. Iran Kish collaborates with Tafta's technology companies to execute digital transformation projects including migration to modern payment switches. Some initiatives that took a decade at other banks were achieved in 3-4 years at Bank Tejarat through Tafta partnership.
• Finovad Innovation Center (مرکز نوآوری فینوداد)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation center where Hamed Movahhedi (Iran Kish board member) serves as Chairman of the Board. Strategic partner in fintech innovation and payment technology development.
• National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIran Kish won the tender for service, maintenance, support, and repair of smart fuel system equipment (hardware and software) for NIOPDC, responsible for managing Iran's fuel terminal infrastructure nationwide.
• ISCO (Iran Samaneh Construction — ایساکو)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIran Kish provides closed-loop payment card program for ISACO with thousands of POS terminals deployed at ISACO's specialized auto parts stores across Iran and tens of thousands of cards issued in the closed-loop format.
• Bank Saderat IrancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBank Saderat partnered with Iran Kish for the launch of EMV contactless NFC payment using NFC capability on card chips. The launch was conducted with representatives from Bank Saderat, Sadad Group, Iran Kish, and the Central Bank of Iran.
• Refah Chain StoresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTarmeh digital wallet payment was operationalized at Refah stores through the Zomorod app (Bank Tejarat) and Iran Kish's infrastructure. This represented a live deployment of the digital wallet for credit-based purchases.
• Central Bank of Iran (Bank Markazi — بانک مرکزی)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulator and licensor. Iran Kish operates under PSP license issued by CBI and participates in national strategic projects including contactless payment, digital Rial, and Meer Shebaar — all mandated by CBI.
• Shaparak (National Electronic Payment Network — شبکه الکترونیکی پرداخت کارت)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational switch operator for card payments in Iran. Iran Kish's performance metrics (market share, merchant error rates) are reported and ranked by Shaparak. The company maintains a Tier-1 ranking in multiple Shaparak-reported metrics.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Verifone: Global POS terminal hardware and payment-acceptance solutions provider. Comparable to Iran Kish on the POS hardware side (GSM/Bluetooth/LAN/PC POS portfolio), though at global rather than national scale.
• Ingenico (Worldline): Global POS terminal manufacturer and integrated payment-acceptance provider, now part of Worldline. Comparable to Iran Kish on the terminal-hardware layer and EMV/contactless acceptance expertise.
• Network International: UAE-headquartered regional payments processor offering merchant acquiring, POS, and processing across MEA. Comparable to Iran Kish as a non-bank payment processor, but operating at much broader regional scale.

Direct peers

• Parsian Electronic Payment: Parsian Bank-affiliated PSP offering POS, IPG, and payment-switching services to Iranian merchants. Operates in the same CBI-licensed PSP regulatory regime and competes for the same merchant and bank customers as Iran Kish.
• Pasargad Electronic Payment: Bank Pasargad's PSP providing POS, IPG, and card services to Iranian merchants; competes with Iran Kish for the same bank-issued card volumes and merchant acquisition.
• Sepehr Electronic Payment: Iranian PSP providing POS terminals and payment-switching services; competes directly with Iran Kish on merchant acquisition, IPG, and bank partnerships in Iran.
• BehPardakht Mellat: Bank Mellat's PSP providing POS, IPG, and payment-switching to merchants across Iran. Comparable in bank-ecosystem ownership structure (Mellat-linked) and full-stack electronic payment offering to Iran Kish.
• Saman Electronic Payment (SEP / Saman Kish): Iranian PSP serving merchants with POS, IPG, and switching, and historically a direct competitor of Iran Kish in Shaparak rankings and merchant-acquisition share. Closest comparable business model and customer base within Iran.
• Fanava Electronic Payment: Iranian PSP offering payment-switching and merchant-acquisition services in direct competition with Iran Kish, including POS and online gateway products for Iranian merchants.
• Informatics Services Corporation (ISC): Bank Mellat-aligned IT and payment-services company historically tied to Iran's national payment infrastructure. Overlaps with Iran Kish in payment switching, POS software, and bank-channel distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irankish

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iran Kish Credit Card Co (Kiccc)