The press service of the credit institution, the Phygital network of Alfa-Bank offices, received the Eco Best Award for contributing to the development of the urban environment. Alfa-Bank emphasizes that its Phygital branches blend cutting-edge technology with human-facing service, bringing the best of both worlds to everyday financial tasks. Face ID is used to recognize customers at the entrance, enabling staff to access the right information quickly and securely without slowing down the flow of service.
Phygital locations are designed as open, communal spaces without traditional windows, shelves, or partitions. The environment feels less like a conventional bank and more like a coworking hub or a welcoming cafe, where people can relax and handle banking matters in a comfortable setting. This approach aims to make banking feel casual, approachable, and efficient, inviting customers to drop in for a quick transaction or an informal consultation.
The concept also prioritizes flexibility and accessibility. Visitors can bring their pets, turning unexpected errands into easy, social moments. For many customers, a bank visit becomes a natural stop during a daily walk, a habit that reduces the need for advance planning and improves convenience. Alfa-Bank highlights that this pet-friendly approach supports a healthier, more relaxed banking experience for busy city dwellers.
In a move toward truly digital operations, documents can be signed and stored directly on a smartphone. This paperless workflow is not only faster but also significantly more sustainable. By eliminating paper-based processes in Phygital branches, Alfa-Bank estimates a savings of about 10,000 tons of paper each year. The shift reduces clutter, lowers operating costs, and minimizes the environmental footprint of routine banking tasks.
Today, Alfa-Bank operates more than 300 Phygital offices, expanding the reach of this innovative model across urban and suburban areas. The growing network underscores the bank’s commitment to reimagining customer service through a blend of physical presence and digital convenience, creating spaces where people feel welcome, productive, and in control of their finances.
The Eco Best Award serves to recognize environmental protection projects and to highlight the tangible benefits of sustainable practices. By spotlighting initiatives that reduce waste and promote greener urban living, the award helps steer public attention toward practical, scalable solutions in the financial sector and beyond.
In this context, Alfa-Bank’s investment in Phygital offices represents a broader strategy to align everyday banking with ecological responsibility and user-friendly design. The combination of seamless digital workflows, open and social spaces, and a focus on accessible services makes visits more efficient while supporting a healthier, more sustainable city environment. This approach stands as a model for how financial institutions can evolve with customers’ needs and environmental expectations in mind, creating value for users and communities alike. (Eco Best Award, organizers) The bank’s leadership has signaled that such innovations will continue to guide its growth and influence industry standards in Canada and the United States as interest in sustainable banking solutions grows.