Category: Central Bank of Russia

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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In January, prices rose more than in December in all regions except the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, where price growth slowed, and Kamchatka Krai, where prices rose as much as in December.

The increase is primarily due to increases in VAT, excise taxes, regulated tariffs, and fees. Furthermore, due to additional costs during severe frosts, including heating costs, vegetable prices in most regions increased significantly after an unusually low increase in November-December 2025. Also, in many regions, tariffs for housing services, public transportation, communications services, and cultural organizations increased due to one-time indexation.

According to the Bank of Russia's estimates, inflation will decline once these factors have been exhausted. This will be facilitated by monetary policy. According to the forecast, inflation will fall to 4.5–5.5% in 2026, reach 4% in 2027, and stabilize at the target thereafter.

For more information on inflation in each region, please seeinformation and analytical materials.

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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Bank of Russia finalized a new methodology for identifying systemically important credit institutions (SICIs) taking into account market opinion. What has changed in relation to initial concept:

Bank investments in securities backed by securitized consumer loans are included in the "Consumer Portfolio" component of the summary result (initially, only loans were taken into account); relationships with non-bank financial institutions are taken into account in the differentiating criterion "Potential consequences of the domino effect on the interbank lending market" (calculated only for the interbank lending market); legal entities and sole proprietors are included in the assessment of the differentiating criterion "Size of the client base" (calculated only for individuals); the "Regional importance" indicator has been transferred to the differentiating criteria (assessed as part of the components of the summary result).

The regulator plans to publish a draft regulation outlining a new methodology for assessing regulatory impact in the first half of 2027, and to compile a list of SZKOs based on it in the fall of 2027. Differentiated capital adequacy ratios for systemic importance are planned to be introduced over several years, tentatively beginning in 2028.

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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An international extended session on information security was held at the Ural Forum "Cybersecurity in Finance." It brought together cybersecurity specialists from central banks and financial market regulators from 16 countries.

"I'm pleased that our meetings have become a tradition. This is another opportunity to discuss trends in information security and share experiences in combating cyberfraud. We all understand that the safety and well-being of our citizens depend on our effective work," noted German Zubarev, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia.

Participants discussed measures to combat cyber fraud, the need to exchange information on cyber incidents, current trends in cyber threats, including the use of deepfakes, as well as the safe use of artificial intelligence technologies and the implementation of digital financial technologies.

Particular attention was paid to strengthening international cooperation and developing joint practical solutions to improve the financial sector's information security. Following the meeting, the participants confirmed their commitment to further joint collaboration in the area of cybersecurity.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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Credit institutions should carefully monitor whether there is written consent from legal representatives of minor clients aged 14 to 18 when opening a bank account for them. This is stated ininformation letter Bank of Russia.

The regulator found that some banks open accounts for minors without such consent or do not have documentary evidence of its receipt.

This creates the preconditions for involving teenagers in high-risk financial transactions as front individuals—money mules. Typically, the purpose of such transactions is money laundering, illegal entrepreneurial activity, or other illegal activities.

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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The typical head of a financial institution is a man aged 50, with a university degree, and an average tenure of five years. The Bank of Russia compiled this profile based on data on the heads (sole executive bodies, or SEBs) of credit and insurance institutions, non-state pension funds, microfinance institutions, and management companies.

Two-thirds of executives are men, although the proportion of women has increased slightly in recent years. Most CEOs have a higher education in economics, and the least have an education in IT. Almost 20% of company heads own shares or stakes in the organizations they lead.

Read more in the article "Portrait of the Head of a Financial Organization".

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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The Bank of Russia intends to simplify access to the securities market, retaining only the registration of assets that are sensitive in terms of potential risks for a wide range of investors. The initiatives are presented inreport for public discussionThis approach will facilitate companies' entry into the capital market, reduce their costs, and reduce the timeframe for issuing securities. At the same time, disclosure requirements for issuers and guarantees for investor protection will remain.

When optimizing issuance procedures, the Bank of Russia will consider the company's status (public or non-public), the category of investors for whom the securities are intended (qualified or non-qualified), the issue volume, the par value of the securities, and other factors. One proposal is to exempt share issues in non-public joint-stock companies with no more than 50 shareholders from registration, while maintaining the company's obligation to maintain records of securities with a registrar. It is also proposed to reduce the timeframe for exercising shareholders' preemptive rights to purchase additional shares from 45 days to 15 business days. This will allow issuers to respond more flexibly and quickly to favorable market conditions in order to raise capital.

Regarding bonds, the changes will affect simple types – those with a fixed income (par value plus coupon income), a limited maturity, and centralized rights accounting. Issuers will no longer need to register such bonds or a prospectus if their borrowing volume does not exceed 3 billion rubles per year. When admitting bonds to organized trading, exchanges will verify compliance with the law.

The regulator may delegate the registration of structured bonds placed on the organized market to the exchange, and over-the-counter (OTC) bonds to the central depository, provided that the issue parameters, including the type of underlying asset, income structure, and payment procedure, are standardized. It will retain only issues with more complex terms that do not fit the established templates. Alternatively, a complete waiver of registration for such instruments is being considered. In this case, the exchanges will be responsible for verifying the legality of the bonds at the admission stage. The Bank of Russia is also prepared to waive the registration of bonds intended for qualified investors with a par value exceeding 3 million rubles.

Responses to the questions presented in the report, as well as comments and suggestions regarding it, can be sent to the Bank of Russia up to and including March 31, 2026.

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Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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For the first time, not only schoolchildren, but also children aged 5 to 7 will be able to participate. The Olympiad will run until April 2nd inclusive on the website Uchi.ru.

This year, participants will create a business plan using neural networks, separating artificial intelligence delusions from useful advice, insuring a knight, horse, and castle before a campaign, and recognizing scammers' tricks. Depending on their results, participants will receive a certificate, diploma, or diploma, and their teachers will receive letters of appreciation.

In just one hour, you need to complete 8 tasks, which are adapted to the age of the participants.

"This Olympiad helps cultivate a financially literate generation of young entrepreneurs. And not just entrepreneurs, but people in general who know how to earn money and spend it wisely, who know how to resist fraud, who think about the future, and who aren't afraid to make their dreams come true," noted Mikhail Mamuta, Head of the Bank of Russia's Service for the Protection of Financial Services Consumers.

The Olympiad will open with an online lesson, "Mission Computer: How to Save for Your Dream," led by a representative of the Bank of Russia. During the lesson, participants will learn how to independently save for an expensive purchase, protect themselves from deepfakes, and choose the right savings products to quickly reach their financial goals.

The lesson will be broadcast on March 3 at 10:00 AM Moscow time. You can watch it onevent page on the Uchi.ru website. The broadcast will also be available on the Bank of Russia's official community page.VKontakte, where participants will be able to ask questions to the speaker.

The Olympiad is organized by the Bank of Russia, the National Priorities ANO, the Russian Ministry of Finance, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, and the Uchi.ru educational platform as part of the national project "Efficient and Competitive Economy."

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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Bank of Russia offers to discuss the feasibility of creating a register of financial influencers, introducing requirements for their qualifications and establishing responsibility for the quality of the information disseminated.

The financial market, as in other sectors, has seen the emergence of a large number of influencers. They often become entry points into investing and money management for the masses.

When making financial decisions, people who lack the necessary knowledge often rely on recommendations on social media. However, financial influencers may lack the necessary expertise and often present promotional information as their personal opinion. Furthermore, the Bank of Russia has identified cases of stock market price manipulation through Telegram channels, where audiences were encouraged to buy and sell securities.

Financial influencers often present complex financial instruments in a simplified manner that doesn't fully convey key information, including risks, which creates inflated expectations among investors. Following such advice can lead to the loss of savings and disappointment in the financial industry and investments. Currently, influencers are not responsible for the quality of their content and are not obligated to compensate for any losses their followers may incur from following their advice or hidden advertising, the report notes.

Among other measures, the Bank of Russia considers it necessary to label financial influencers' materials so that citizens understand that the information is posted at the request of a particular financial institution. The regulator also proposes establishing criteria that financial influencers' activities must meet.

Responses to the questions posed in the report, proposals and comments on it can be sent to the Bank of Russia up to and including April 30, 2026.

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Bank of Russia has expanded the number of non-credit financial institutions required to enhance the level of information security when conducting financial transactions with clients. The updated requirements are provided for indication Bank of Russia.

The regulator has established information security requirements for microfinance organizations (MFOs). For example, they will be required to use antivirus software and record information security events. These guidelines will become mandatory for most MFOs starting January 1, 2027.

Furthermore, all insurance companies, non-state pension funds, and registrars are now required to implement additional information security measures. For example, at least once every three years, they are required to comply with the requirements national standard Engage third-party specialists to verify the organization's information security level. Companies should also evaluate their software and applications, including those provided to clients, for compliance with security requirements.

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.