In a February 2024 survey conducted by Sinara Bank, and reported by socialbites.ca, a notable portion of Russians indicated they receive a refund on at least some purchases. Specifically, 44% of respondents said they obtain a cashback on any purchase, highlighting a broad interest in refund programs across different spending categories.
Other findings point to substantial participation in partial refunds offered at supermarkets, where 23.9% of participants reported receiving a portion back from their purchases. In medical settings and pharmacies, 21.6% noted similar refund benefits. These figures illustrate how cashback incentives have permeated everyday spending across multiple channels and service areas.
Beyond groceries and healthcare, additional common categories for cashback include fuel purchases at gas stations, cited by 20.9% of respondents, as well as food products (16.4%), dining out at cafes and restaurants (15.7%), and taxi services (11.9%). The data suggests a broad reach of refund programs, extending into both essential and discretionary expenses.
Some categories see much lower cashback rates. Subscriptions to online services account for a meager 1.5% of responses, educational products and books for 3%, and visits to beauty salons and spas for 4.5%. Despite the overall appeal of refunds, nearly half of the participants, 47%, reported that banks frequently alter refund terms, introducing variability that customers must track over time. (Source: Sinara Bank survey, February 2024; data aggregated by socialbites.ca.)
When looking at overall cashback adoption, more than four in five respondents expressed a desire to receive refunds on all future purchases. Additionally, 22.4% of Russians indicated dissatisfaction with the adequacy of reimbursements in housing and communal services, suggesting room for improvement in service-specific cashback policies.
On a broader scale, about 63% of Russians participate in loyalty programs offered by banks. Among these participants, 71% report earning cashback through their debit cards, while 14% accumulate bonus points as part of the program. A little over half of those who receive cash back—53%—spend the funds on future purchases, while 42% convert bonuses into cash in their bank accounts. These patterns reveal how rewards systems influence consumer budgeting and spending behavior over time.
Analysts note that modern bonus programs enable consumers to effectively reclaim part of their expenditures and redirect the funds toward future purchases or savings. The survey results indicate that more than half of respondents do not save the money separately but instead use it to discount subsequent purchases, creating a deferred discount effect that occurs after payment rather than at the moment of sale. This interpretation aligns with insights shared by Andrey Khafizov, head of retail sales at Sinara Bank, who commented on the evolving role of bonuses in everyday financial planning.
The Sinara Bank survey was conducted in Russia on February 15–16, 2024, with a sample size of 800 adults aged 18 and over representing diverse regions of the country. (Source attribution: Sinara Bank, February 2024; summarized by socialbites.ca.)
Overall, the study sheds light on how cashback programs shape consumer expectations and bank offerings across the Russian market, illustrating a strong appetite for immediate or near-term rebates and a growing tendency to view cashback as a form of deferred purchasing power.