At a Finance Cyber Security forum in Inal, Vadim Kulik, a vice president on the VTB Board, outlined a strategic move to build a sovereign IT capability and reduce expenses by replacing foreign vendors. By 2030, VTB estimates savings close to 180 billion rubles as imported innovations are replaced with Russia-developed solutions. The remarks framed the shift as part of a wider effort to bolster digital resilience in a changing financial landscape.
Beyond the price tag, the plan serves a larger economic objective: substituting imported developments with local innovations to lessen exposure to external disruptions and to strengthen the domestic tech ecosystem. Kulik emphasized that sovereignty over IT assets offers long term benefits, including faster adaptation to evolving regulations and alignment with national cybersecurity goals. The emphasis on homegrown software is presented as a lever for competitiveness, risk management, and the continuity of services for millions of customers who rely on VTB for everyday banking and online services.
On the numbers, the projected 180 billion rubles in savings relate to the period up to 2030 and come from reducing reliance on imported developments. The figure reflects economies of scale, supplier rationalization, and the shift to internally developed solutions customized to fit the bank’s processes. The analysis highlights total cost of ownership, clearer governance, easier updates, and better alignment with Russia’s regulatory and security frameworks.
Officials explained that the savings will come from internal optimization, with an IT landscape built on open technologies and Russia-made software that is documented and standardized. The approach prioritizes reusable components and interoperable interfaces to avoid dependence on external platforms whose roadmaps may not match VTB’s risk profile. In practice, the bank is assembling a modular stack designed to evolve without interrupting daily operations.
For its critical information infrastructure, VTB focuses on import substitution of CT systems. The bank’s top manager noted that all 57 systems have been migrated to domestic tech stacks and now interface with payment and transfer networks, online and remote banking services, and other core services in the Russian Bank ecosystem. The migration aims to reduce single points of failure and improve visibility over data flows in line with national standards for data localization and transactional integrity.
An additional pillar is the shift to a new automatic banking system, ABS, developed on a distributed service architecture by T1 Holding. The platform is described as the technological core enabling automation of the bank’s business processes, from settlement to customer service workflows. The architecture is designed to scale with demand, support cross-border operations if needed, and provide greater fault tolerance, signaling a move from monolithic to modular environments.
Kulik described the IT environment as strong and fault resistant, capable of handling daily payments, transfers, and deposits with minimal downtime. The infrastructure is a reliable partner for customers seeking seamless service and for stakeholders who depend on a continuously available financial backbone. Reliability also supports risk management, with automated checks and secure data handling guiding every transaction.
Kulik noted that this modernization positions VTB as a key partner for state initiatives, aligning with national IT priorities. Building and operating a sovereign tech stack supports public sector programs and regulatory objectives, reinforcing VTB’s role as a trusted financial services provider in the domestic economy.
Open-source technologies and active participation in domestic solutions gained momentum in 2022, laying the foundation for a vibrant local ecosystem. The bank’s collaboration with Russian developers is framed as a lasting commitment that will keep shaping its technology roadmap and align with national standards.