Russia: VTB launches commission-free mobile phone payments in the CIS

VTB Bank has announced the launch of a new service for customers that allows them to top up mobile phone accounts of operators in five CIS countries — Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The service is provided without commission, which makes it popular both among those who maintain constant contacts with relatives and friends abroad, and among travelers.

Deposits are made via the VTB Online app. The user must select the "To another country" section, specify the payment direction, go to the "Mobile communications" category, and then select the operator. The transfer is made instantly, and the maximum amount of one payment is set at 1,535,398 soums.

According to the bank, the key advantage of the service is not only the absence of additional fees, but also the high speed of crediting funds. VTB notes that the service will become particularly relevant for Russians with family and business ties in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. In the near future, it is planned to expand the geography of the service to two more countries.

The initiative reflects VTB's strategy to strengthen its presence in international settlement markets and increase the availability of cross-border financial services. Taking into account the high mobility of CIS citizens and significant cash flows between countries, the introduction of the service may become a factor of additional growth of trust in the Russian bank and strengthening its position in the international payments segment.