The US authorities announced the imminent introduction of full blocking sanctions against Alfa-Bank and Sberbank a day earlier, on April 6. As part of the restrictive measures related to the US financial system, the assets of banks will be frozen, and US citizens and companies will be prohibited from doing business with them. Sberbank accounts for about a third of the assets of the entire Russian banking sector, the White House said, which makes its position significant for the entire Russian economy.
According to data The Central Bank of Russia, as of January 1 this year, the total assets of all credit institutions in Russia amounted to 120.53 trillion rubles, while the assets of Sberbank amounted to 38.63 trillion rubles. Sberbank holds key positions in lending to companies and individuals.
An unnamed senior US official said Reutersthat transactions related to payment for energy supplies will not fall under the sanctions.
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Sberanka assured RBC that they continue to work as usual, and restrictive measures will not have a significant impact on its work. “[Санкции] will not affect the service of Russians in any way, since the system has already adapted to the previously introduced restrictions, ”the bank explained.
Alfa-Bank made a similar statement, indicating that more than 8.2 thousand sanctions have already been imposed against Russia. “What does it mean? Well, nothing. Previously, we were afraid of this, but now we are working as usual, ”added the bank. Alfa-Bank added that customers can still use Mastercard, Visa and Mir cards within the country, all services also remained available for legal entities.
“The restrictions will affect transactions with dollars, in addition, the bank will suspend settlements with counterparties from the United States,” Alfa-Bank said in a statement.