Sberbank has broadened the capabilities of its digital asset platform for individual customers, a move highlighted during Sber Investor Day by Anatoly Popov, the bank’s deputy chairman of the board. The update expands options for handling digital financial assets by allowing deposits and withdrawals to fund DFA transactions, marking a notable enhancement in how retail clients interact with digital assets.
Popov noted that Sberbank became the first Russian bank to be included in the register of information system operators. Over the life of the platform, the information system recorded 63 DFA-related issues, with approximately 2 billion rubles issued in connection with those problems. He described this DFA framework as a new digital channel for personal investment and liquidity-building for the bank’s individual clientele [citation needed].
Looking ahead, Popov said that by the end of 2023, Sberbank’s loan portfolio for small businesses would surpass 1.5 trillion rubles, reflecting a 73% increase from the end of 2022. This surge is attributed to aggressive development of small business segments that emerged in the wake of foreign brands exiting certain markets, creating new opportunities for local players [citation needed].
The executive also underlined ongoing efforts to diversify financing options for corporate clients. This year, Sberbank introduced an Islamic financing product designed to provide working capital to legal entities in full compliance with Islamic finance standards approved by the international Islamic committee. A pilot phase has already allocated a lending limit, and discussions with prospective borrowers are underway [citation needed].
Popov emphasized Sberbank’s role as a principal partner for the state in university campus construction. Three projects totaling 22 billion rubles have received approval and are actively under construction in Nizhny Novgorod, Veliky Novgorod, and Ufa, with eight additional projects valued at 67 billion rubles currently progressing through construction phases [citation needed].