Industrial action at the data centre of payment card processor JCC Payment Systems is expected to shut down cash machines and merchant terminals across Cyprus this weekend.
The action, which is expected to paralyse the operations of the island's principal card payment processor, begins at midnight tonight. Banks affected by the strike have decided to halt all card transaction for the duration of the stoppage in the interests of security.
MasterCard has issued a statement, saying it "greatly regrets" the inconvenience this will cause for cardholders.
The company says that cardholders will still be able to access cash at 19 National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) ATMs since the bank does not have its card transactions processed by JCC Payment Systems. Similarly, cards issued by the Bank of Cyprus, Popular Bank, Hellenic Bank, National Bank of Greece (Cyprus), and Federal Bank of the Middle East will also be unaffected.