Birbank adds cinema ticket booking for Azerbaijan users

Bir has partnered with CineMastercard to add cinema ticket booking to the Birbank app for its more than 5 million users in Azerbaijan.

Birbank users will be able to search film titles and showtimes, select seats on an interactive map and pay for tickets without leaving the app. Tickets will be delivered within the application.

The service is scheduled to launch by the end of the year, once technical integration and testing are complete.

The addition expands Birbank's existing financial and payments offering into entertainment booking. Bir said the partnership supports its broader plan to bring more everyday services into a single digital platform for consumers across Azerbaijan.

Bir launched in 2025 as an ecosystem combining banking, payments and eCommerce services. Its portfolio includes Birbank, the digital banking brand of Kapital Bank, the Birmarket eCommerce platform, MilliÖn payment terminals and the m10 e-wallet app.

The group has also partnered with Trendyol and BakıKart as it expands beyond core banking and payments. Adding cinema bookings marks a further push into consumer services alongside financial transactions.

CineMastercard is one of Azerbaijan's larger cinema networks. It previously operated under the CinemaPlus brand and was rebranded in 2024 after partnering with Mastercard.

Its venues offer several viewing formats, including 4DX, ScreenX, VIP DIAMOND and Skybox halls. The integration will allow Birbank users to complete the booking journey inside the app instead of being redirected to an external platform.

Broader app role

Birbank already lets users manage bank accounts, make digital payments, access personalised offers and use an AI-based assistant for everyday banking tasks. The app also includes digital cards and QR payment tools.

For Bir, the latest partnership reflects an effort to position the app as a broader consumer gateway rather than a service used only for finance. The strategy mirrors a wider trend in several markets, where banking and wallet apps are used to distribute transport, shopping and entertainment services.

In Azerbaijan, competition for daily digital engagement has increased as financial technology groups, retailers and service providers try to keep users in their applications for longer. Adding ticket booking can create more frequent interactions beyond routine bill payments and money transfers.

Farid Islamov, Chief Customer Value and Innovative Products Officer at the Bir ecosystem, said: "This partnership merges digital payment capabilities and cinema bookings, making planning cinema outings easier and smoother than ever. At Bir, our ambition is to make the Birbank app an integral part of people's daily lives, bringing together the services they need in one convenient digital space within the Bir ecosystem. By integrating cinema bookings directly into Birbank, we are taking another step towards that vision, allowing customers to do more with a single app while saving time and enjoying a simpler, more connected experience. We will continue to expand our ecosystem through innovative partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to our customers and make everyday services easier to access."