Russian banks must offer fee-free C2G payments via SBP by 2027
The Bank of Russia has issued an ordinance requiring banks to enable fee-free consumer-to-government payments through the Faster Payments System. Major credit institutions must implement the service on public portals and service points by April 2027.
Zero-fee public sector transactions
Under a new Bank of Russia ordinance registered by the Ministry of Justice, credit institutions must offer C2G payment options on public service portals, government agency websites, and physical service points.
The requirement covers routine public payments including fees for kindergartens, extracurricular clubs, taxes, and municipal fines.
All C2G payments made via the Faster Payments System (SBP) will remain completely fee-free for citizens, and commercial banks will pay zero regulatory fees for these transfers.
Major credit institutions must comply by April 1, 2027, while banks with a universal licence have until October 1, 2027, although several institutions already offer this service.
Interbank cash deposits introduced
Alongside the mandatory public payment expansion, the Bank of Russia has introduced a new cash-in functionality within the Faster Payments System infrastructure.
The service enables retail customers to deposit physical cash into their personal bank account using an automated teller machine (ATM) operated by a different bank.
Participation in the cash-in feature remains voluntary, allowing individual financial institutions to decide whether to roll out the service based on their own operational considerations.
State efficiency ahead of bank margins
Mandating fee-free public payments accelerates state digital integration while squeezing bank fee margins.
Leaving cross-bank cash deposits optional, however, risks sluggish adoption across fragmented ATM networks.
Overall, the regulator prioritizes user convenience over commercial banking revenue.
Source: Faster Payments System: new services
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