Sberbank, VTB and PSB Bank became the leaders of the rating by the quality indicator of Media Index in August.
Sberbank took the first position thanks to the following media reports:
• Sberbank explained the procedure for sending free messages about card transactions.
• Sberbank has lowered the maximum rate on a single dollar-denominated deposit for mass clients from 0.5% to 0.35%, and also lowered the rates on deposits in rubles.
• Sberbank was the first Russian bank to launch a marketplace for selling OSAGO policies; auto insurance is sold in the Sberbank Online mobile application.
VTB is in second place:
• Anatoly Pechatnikov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of VTB Bank, at a press briefing warned of the risk of a return to the situation with bank deposits in the 1990s, and also announced that the bank would decrease by 0.5 pp rates across the entire line of basic mortgage programs by 0.5 pp from August 5.
• VTB Bank has reduced the down payment on Far Eastern mortgages and for families with children to 15%.
• VTB Bank plans to open about 100 offices within two years and transfer 100% of products for individuals to online channels as part of its development strategy and large-scale modernization of its regional network.
PSB Bank is in third position in the media rating:
• The media reported on the possible introduction of a system for recharging cards through the cash desks of stores, a corresponding pilot project will be launched by PSB Bank in the coming months.
• The media reported that Russian banks can start issuing loans through ATMs using biometric technologies. The possibility of using this technology is being studied at PSB Bank, as well as VTB and other credit and financial institutions.
• PSB Bank during the Army-2020 forum signed agreements with Chuvashia, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and defense industry enterprises.
The most noticeable changes in the ranking:
Sovcombank (+10)
• Russian banks plan to test self-write-off of funds for housing and communal services and loans, said Tatyana Zharkova, general director of the FinTech Association (AFT). A number of banks, including Sovcombank, became interested in the AFT proposal.
Post Bank (+8)
• The media reported that VTB is launching a “Multicart of Treasure” campaign dedicated to pirate themes. Customers of VTB and Post Bank registered in the Multibonus loyalty program will be able to take part in it.
Ak Bars Bank (+6) and Russian National Commercial Bank (+6)
• The Izvestia newspaper announced the possible introduction of a system for replenishing cards through the cash desks of stores; the prospects for its launch are being considered, in particular, by the Ak Bars Bank and the Crimean RNKB.
Bank Saint Petersburg (+7)
• Russian banks in August 2020 announced the introduction of fees for servicing accounts in foreign currency. In particular, the website of Bank Saint Petersburg announced the introduction of a commission from 17 August for maintaining an account in euros, if the average monthly balance exceeds 3.5 thousand euros.
Novikombank (+6)
• At the Army-2020 forum Novikombank signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Natspromleasing (part of the Rostec contour), within the framework of which financing in the amount of 7 billion rubles will be organized.
Ural Bank for Reconstruction and Development (+9)
• The media reported that UBRD, along with other Russian banks, is considering the possibility of issuing loans through ATMs using biometric technologies.
Asian-Pacific Bank (+8)
• ATB has launched a new credit card "Fresh" for representatives of the youth segment making their first independent steps in the financial world.
Banks (new) that entered the media rating in August, but were not represented in the top 50 in the previous month (indicating notable events that were covered by the media):
Expobank (37th place)
• Expobank issued the first loan in Russia secured by cryptocurrency, the transaction was carried out on 17 August.
OTP Bank (38th place)
• VSK Insurance House was awarded the Finaward 2019 prize in the special nomination “Service product for bank card holders”, which was implemented jointly with OTP Bank.
Bank "Tochka" (39th place)
• Bank "Tochka" installed the art object "Say it by deed" in the park near the Drama Theater in Yekaterinburg.
Bank "Kuban Credit" (40th place)
• Bank "Kuban Credit" announced the holding of the Day of sales on August 21 in Rostov-on-Don. During the campaign, in the bank's offices, one could apply for the purchase of housing on a mortgage without an initial payment at 7.77% per annum.