Almost all Russians—about 85 percent—view cashback in relevant spending categories as the decisive factor when choosing a debit card for everyday purchases. This share rose by a noticeable 15 percent over the last year, a shift tracked by a joint survey from Pochta Bank and the financial market platform Vyberu.ru, with findings shared by the editors of socialbites.ca.
More than nine in ten respondents prefer to receive cashback in rubles rather than convert it into bonuses or discounts. About 40 percent of participants regularly carry two cashback cards, 38 percent keep one, more than 12 percent use three, and roughly 10 percent rely on more than three cards. This pattern reveals a growing appetite for flexibility and real-time savings, rather than accumulative rewards that require extra steps to redeem.
When it comes to the amount returned, 35 percent of respondents report earning up to 1 thousand rubles per month, 30 percent up to 500 rubles, 20 percent up to 2 thousand rubles, and 15 percent more than 2 thousand rubles per month. The majority see cashback as a meaningful supplement to monthly budgets, not a theoretical perk.
In terms of categories offering the highest refunds, respondents ranked in order of popularity: supermarkets, clothing and footwear, dining at restaurants and fast food venues, beauty products and services, and transportation. The clear preference for everyday essentials underscores cashback’s role as a practical budgeting tool rather than a luxury perk.
Anton Anishchenko, who leads retail distribution at Post Bank and serves on its board, remarked that consumers want to be paid in real money here and now, not in distant bonuses or abstract benefits. His observation aligns with the broader push toward tangible value that improves daily purchasing power.
Yaroslav Bajurak, Executive Director of Vyberu.ru, predicted a shift over the next few years from traditional bonus issuance to more personalized offers. Such customization would allow cardholders to focus on the most profitable card for their own spending patterns. He also noted that as digitization expands, more regions within the country are likely to see growing adoption of cash-back refunds, driven by the increasing role of digital tools in daily life.
The survey gathered responses from about two thousand people aged 18 to 65 across various regions, providing a snapshot of consumer preferences in a large and diverse market. The results shed light on how people manage everyday expenses and how financial products can better align with real-world spending rhythms.
In previous reporting, socialbites.ca highlighted where Russians prefer to allocate their savings, a theme that complements the cashback findings by illustrating how budgeting choices intersect with card-based refunds and the broader financial ecosystem.