The Central Bank of Russia issued an ordinance requiring banks to let customers make consumer-to-government payments through the Faster Payments System. The fee-free option will cover payments such as childcare and extracurricular activities, taxes and fines, and must be available through public and municipal service portals, government agency websites and public-sector customer service points. The requirement will apply to the largest credit institutions from April 1, 2027, and to banks with a universal licence from October 1, 2027. Individuals and banks will pay no fees for these transactions. A separate cash-in service now allows customers to fund an account at one bank by depositing cash at another bank’s ATM, although banks may choose whether to offer it.
Central Bank of Russia requires banks to offer fee-free public payments through Faster Payments System from 2027
The Central Bank of Russia will require banks to offer fee-free consumer-to-government payments through the Faster Payments System. The requirement takes effect for the largest credit institutions on April 1, 2027, and for banks with a universal licence on October 1, 2027. Banks may also choose to offer a service for depositing cash into another bank’s account through their ATMs.