Xiaomi Mi Band 4 NFC: Which banks supported payment in 2021 and how it worked?

Fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 4 NFC This was a real breakthrough in the wearable electronics market due to the possibility of contactless payments, which in 2021 was especially popular – users could pay for purchases up to 1000 rubles without having to get a phone or a bank card. However, not all banks supported the technology, and the list of available financial institutions was regularly updated.

In this article, we will discuss in detail which banks in Russia and CIS countries officially cooperated with Mi Band 4. NFC In 2021, how to connect cards to the bracelet, what were the restrictions on amounts and currencies, and also answer frequent questions of users, we will pay special attention to the nuances that could cause problems with payment, from locking the card to synchronization errors.

If you are still using the Mi Band 4 NFC If you're planning to buy it on a secondary market, this information will help you avoid common mistakes and make the most of contactless payments. And for those who have already experienced difficulties, we've prepared step-by-step troubleshooting instructions.

Official list of banks supporting Mi Band 4 NFC 2021

Xiaomi actively expanded its partner network for its Mi Pay payment system in 2021, but not all banks had time to connect to the ecosystem. Below is a full list of financial institutions that officially supported card binding to the Mi Band 4. NFC It is important to note that some banks limited the functionality only for certain types of cards (for example, only debit cards or only Mastercard).

• 🏦 Sberbank – debit and credit cards Mastercard/Mir (Visa was partially supported, with restrictions)
• 💳 Tinkoff Bank – all Mastercard debit cards (Visa not supported)
• 🏛️ Alfa-Bank – Mastercard debit cards (credit cards are not connected)
• 💰 VTB – Mir and Mastercard cards (required activation in a mobile bank)
• 📱 Raiffeisenbank – only debit Mastercard (with a limitation on the amount of payment)
• 🌍 Opening of Mastercard Standard and Gold Cards
• 💎 Gazprombank – Mir debit cards (Mastercard was connected selectively)
• 🔄 Promsvyazbank – only Mastercard cards (Visa was not supported)

In the CIS countries, the situation was more limited, for example, in Kazakhstan Mi Band 4. NFC He worked only with Kaspi Bank and Halyk Bank (only Mastercard cards), and in Belarus - with Belinvestbank and Belgazprombank (only for residents). Ukrainian banks such as MonoBank and PrivatBank did not officially support bracelet binding in 2021, although some users found workarounds through virtual cards.

Important: in 2021, Mi Band 4 NFC Visa did not support Visa cards in most banks due to payment system restrictions, which was due to Visa’s wearables policy, which required additional certification, which Xiaomi did not pass for this model.

How to connect a bank card to Mi Band 4 NFC: step-by-step

The process of binding the card to the bracelet took no more than 5-10 minutes, but required compliance with several key conditions:

1. Make sure your smartphone has Mi Fit app version 4.6.0 or later installed.
2. The bracelet must be connected to the phone via Bluetooth and synced with the Xiaomi account.
3. The bank card must be supported (see the list above) and be activated for contactless payments.

Follow the instructions:

1. Open the Mi Fit app and go to Profile → Mi Band 4 → Contactless payments.
2. Click Add Card and select the bank from the list. If your bank is not available, try the Other Card option (it didn't work for everyone).
3. Enter the card data manually or scan it through the phone camera.
4. Confirm the binding through SMS or push notification from the bank (usually the code came within 1-2 minutes).
5. Wait for synchronization (the bracelet should vibrate) and check the status of the card in the application.

Install the latest version of Mi Fit|Check the bank's support|Activate NFC phone-on|Charge the bracelet to 50%+|Connect Mi Band to Mi Fit-->

If the card is not tied, check:

• 🔋 Bracelet charge level (must be at least 20%).
• 📶 Internet connection stability (linking requires online confirmation).
• 📱 Bracelet firmware version (update via Mi Fit) → Device profile → Update of the PO).

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If the bank doesn’t appear on the list, try temporarily changing the region in the Mi Fit settings to “China” – sometimes this helped connect cards that aren’t officially supported in Russia.

Limits and limits of payments through Mi Band 4 NFC 2021

Despite the convenience, contactless payments via Mi Band 4 NFC There were a number of limitations that were important to consider:

In addition, some terminals may not accept payments from the bracelet due to:

• 🛒 Outdated software (support required) EMV-chip).
• 🔒 Blocking payments from a bank (for example, if fraud is suspected).
• 📡 Bad contact between the bracelet and the reader (you had to bring closer than the phone).

In 2021, Sberbank temporarily suspended support for Mi Band 4 NFC Visa cards were dealt with due to technical work, which caused massive complaints from users, and the problem was solved by re-issuing the card on Mastercard or Mir.

Frequent problems and solutions when paying with Mi Band 4 NFC

Even when you set it up properly, users have encountered errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

⚠️ Warning: If after linking the card, the bracelet stopped syncing with the phone, reset it to factory settings via Mi Fit → Device profile → Untie the device. It often helps to reconnect.

Problem 1: The card is tied, but the payments don’t go through.

• 🔄 Check the balance of the card (sometimes the debit was done, but the notification did not come).
• 📵 Make sure that NFC The phone is disabled (device conflict).
• 🔋 Reboot the bracelet and terminal (cashiers can help in the store).

Problem 2: Mi Fit app doesn't see the bank on the list.

• 📲 Update the application to the latest version.
• 🌐 Try changing the region in the settings of the Xiaomi account to "China".
• 💳 Contact your bank and see if they support Mi Pay for your type of card.

Problem 3: After the firmware update, the bracelet stopped accepting payments.

• 🔄 Reverse to the previous version of the software through Mi Fit → Device profile → Three points. → Roll back the firmware.
• 📥 Remove the card and re-attach it.
• 📧 Write in support of Xiaomi with the bracelet model and firmware version.

Sberbank|Tinkoff.|Alfa-Bank|VTB|Another bank.|Didn't use the payments.-->

Comparison of Mi Band 4 NFC with other contactless payment devices

In 2021, there were alternatives to the Mi Band 4 on the market. NFC, For example, the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch supported almost all banks without currency and amount restrictions, but Xiaomi had one key advantage – a low price (the bracelet cost 5-10 times cheaper than a smartwatch).

The main disadvantages of Mi Band 4 NFC versus competitors:

• ❌ Limited list of banks (especially outside Russia).
• ❌ Low payment limits (inconvenient for large purchases).
• ❌ Frequent synchronization errors after updates.

Advantages:

• ✅ The lowest price among devices with NFC.
• ✅ Compact and lightweight (weighing only 22 grams).
• ✅ Long-term operation time (up to 20 days without recharging).

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Mi Band 4 NFC It was the best choice for those who wanted to try contactless payments without a large investment, but was not suitable for regular purchases for large amounts.

Alternative payment methods with Mi Band 4 NFC 2021

If your bank didn't have a direct card-to-bracelet link, there were a few workarounds, and one of the most popular was using virtual cards that were tied to your main account, for example, at Tinkoff Bank, you could issue a virtual Mastercard and tie it to Mi Pay, even if the main card was Visa.

Another option is intermediary services, such as:

• 💳 YooMoney (Yandex.Money) – release a virtual card and tie it to a bracelet.
• 🌐 Revolut – start a multi-currency card (not working with all bracelets).
• 🏦 QIWI Wallet - release the card QIWI Visa Virtual (supported selectively).

It is important to note that these methods may have violated the user agreement of the bank or Xiaomi, so they should be used at your own risk.In addition, virtual cards often had their limits (for example, YooMoney’s limit on one payment was 15 000). ₽, But with the bracelet, it could go down to 3,000. ₽).

⚠️ Note: When using virtual cards to pay with a bracelet, some banks may have blocked a transaction because of suspected fraud. Before linking, check with the bank's support if you are allowed to use a card with wearable devices.

The future of contactless payments in Xiaomi wearables after 2021

After the release of Mi Band 4 NFC Xiaomi has continued to develop contactless payments technology in its devices, and in 2022, Mi Band 6 was introduced. NFC, which supported more banks and had an increased limit on payments (up to 10,000) ₽ Xiaomi also started testing its own payment system Xiaomi Pay, which was supposed to replace Mi Pay and expand the geography of support.

The main changes after 2021:

• 📈 Increase in payment limits (in some banks up to 20,000) ₽/day-night).
• 🌍 Support for Visa cards in new bracelet models.
• 🔄 Simplified card binding procedure (without manual input).
• 📱 Integration with Google Pay and Apple Pay in the new smart watch Xiaomi.

However, the Mi Band 4 NFC It remains a hotspot for those looking for a budget-friendly payment solution, and many users still use it as a backup payment option, especially when traveling or in sports training, where it is inconvenient to bring a phone with them.

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If you are planning to buy the Mi Band 4 NFC In 2026, check to see if your bank has blocked support for older devices. Some financial institutions (e.g. Sberbank) are gradually abandoning compatibility with gadgets older than 2-3 years.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Mi Band 4 NFC bank