year-on-year to RUB 15.6 billion. ? VTB Capital Investments continued to develop the services and functionality of the VTB My Investments platform. For

example, an ESG strategy was launched as part of the robo-advisor service in the VTB My Investments app, and five

new foreign exchange portfolios with global allocation were added, which for the first time are made up entirely of

exchange-traded funds. Since the second quarter, users of the mobile app have been able to see their mutual fund

portfolio in the app. In addition, the VTB My Investments app was seamlessly integrated with the Bank's app, and a

number of other features were added to improve the customer experience. On 1 June 2021, VTB My Investments launched

a campaign for new customers opening a brokerage account, offering them shares in Russian companies as a gift. ? As of the end of 2Q 2021, the app had 350 thousand daily active users; the number of daily transactions was around

1 million, with turnover of more than RUB 100 billion.

Development of digital services of Corporate-investment business ? In Moscow, VTB expanded the contactless payments system used by the Moscow metro and the Central Circle line to

include other forms of ground passenger transport as well. In doing so, the Bank united ground transport in Moscow

with a single contactless fare payment system, thus making travel more convenient for passengers. ? VTB launched a new personal account service for developers enabling a transition to a paperless, legally binding

document workflow at all stages of a construction project.

MEDIUM AND SMALL BUSINESS ? A comprehensive loyalty program called VTB Business League was launched based on service privileges that are

available to existing customers when expanding cooperation and actively using the Bank's services. ? A service was implemented to enable limited-liability companies (for the sole executive body who is the

individual and independent owner of the company) to open a current account in 25 minutes during one visit to a VTB

office. ? VTB launched an updated deposit line for Medium and Small Business customers. Small businesses can open two new

types of bank deposits: "Advance", which offer interest payments at the beginning of the term, and "Collateral",

which can be used as collateral for loans and guarantees. ? For companies conducting international business, VTB introduced the following new digital services: buying or

selling currency at the desired rate and monitoring violations of currency laws. In addition, VTB now has a

personal currency controller for every customer that does business outside the country. The Bank's personal expert,

in addition to carrying out currency control of current transactions on a turnkey basis, will help customers

conclude transactions in accordance with legal requirements, conduct a preliminary expert review of foreign trade

contracts and assist in resolving other issues related to international business. ? VTB began issuing electronic bank guarantees to small businesses on behalf of the Federal Customs Service.

Previously, this possibility was available only to larger customers. ? VTB launched a convenient new service making it possible to register a business (sole proprietorship or LLC)

completely online for customers who have a biometric passport. ? VTB, together with the Federal Tax Service of Russia, launched a service for issuing a electronic signatures on

physical media.

RETAIL BUSINESS ? VTB became the first bank in Russia to launch a video banking service. The service enables customers to visit a

virtual bank branch as an alternative to a visiting an office to receive detailed advice on complex products,

discuss individual terms of service or execute contracts remotely. ? Testing of the "Bank Next Door" service has begun; the service enables anyone to make an appointment with a

financial advisor at the place of their choosing. A VTB advisor will come to the meeting with a tablet with

software installed that makes it possible to complete an application for the Bank's products without visiting a

branch office. ? The VTB Online app made it possible for users to apply for a credit limit increase on a bank card without

contacting a Bank office. ? VTB Online now has a fraudulent call identifier that verifies the authenticity of web addresses and that provides

analysis of transactions based on artificial intelligence and verification of transactions using NFC wireless data

transmission technology. In addition, a service to insure accounts and cards against fraudulent transactions was

made available to customers. ? As part of the development of the mobile operator VTB Mobile, VTB Online launched a free courier delivery service

for SIM cards. ? VTB increased the number of countries for international card-to-card transfers to 105 for Visa cards and 112 for

Mastercard cards. ? As part of the development of its mortgage product line, VTB launched a mortgage programme to finance the

individual construction of homes. The Bank also launched its "Rural Areas Mortgage" programme, which makes it

possible to get a loan at a rate of 2.7% for the purchase of residential real estate under construction or for a

finished residential property in a house with a land plot, a townhouse or an apartment building up to five storeys

high. "Rural Areas Mortgage" operates within the framework of the "Comprehensive development of rural areas" state

programme developed by Russia's Agriculture Ministry. The offer is available for rural areas and cities with a

population of up to 30 thousand inhabitants in 15 regions of Russia.

Business digitalisation and the development of a digital ecosystem ? In the context of the digitalisation of the Retail Business, a voice assistant was added for payments by mobile

phone, transfers to a telephone number, advisory services, etc. ? As part of the digitalisation of Medium and Small Business, a new taxation system called "Income-Expenditure" was

added for clients using the Cifra service. In addition, a "Multibank" function was added that enables users to add

their banks to the app and to see detailed information about their accounts in a single space. ? As part of the digitalisation of the Corporate-Investment Business, services continued to be developed for

customers of brokerage services and investment products for individuals: ? A function enabling 24/7 transfers of funds from the redemption of securities was added to VTB My Investments; ? The ability to obtain the status of a qualified investor was added to the mobile app; ? Accrued taxes and withdrawal limits are now displayed when withdrawing funds in VTB My Investments; ? VTB became the first bank in the market to enable online registration of tax deductions for customers with

individual investment accounts in just a few clicks through the Bank's Internet channels; ? A function was added enabling retail broker customers to manage the margin lending option in their personal

account; ? A function enabling customers to open a forex account remotely through the Bank's Internet channels was added. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attachment File: VTB Group 6M 2021 IFRS Report ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 


ISIN:          US46630Q2021 
Category Code: MSCM 
TIDM:          VTBR 
LEI Code:      253400V1H6ART1UQ0N98 
Sequence No.:  118820 
EQS News ID:   1222912 
 
End of Announcement  EQS News Service 
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 30, 2021 02:59 ET (06:59 GMT)