Top Russian Bank Quits Europe, Citing Sanctions: Report

Sberbank, one of Russia's largest state-controlled banks, is dropping out of almost all European markets citing Western sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported Wednesday.

• According to the report, the bank suffered large outflows of cash and threats to its staff and property.
• On Tuesday, the European Central Bank (ECB) ordered the closure of Sberbank's European unit after a run on deposits following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week.
• Sberbank's European assets were valued at 13 billion euros ($14.4 billion) at the end of 2020, according to the report. The bank operated in several European countries, including Austria, Croatia, Germany and Hungary.
• Sberbank has used blockchain technology for banking, launching numerous initiatives over the last few years. In January 2021, it filed to launch its own stablecoin, a private cryptocurrency linked to the value of real assets like the U.S. dollar.
• The European Union said Wednesday it banned seven Russian banks from the international financial messaging system SWIFT as a result of the military operations in Ukraine. The union has planned a historic support package for Ukraine, which includes 450 million euros worth of lethal weapons to aid Ukraine as it stands against Russia.

See also: EU Excludes 7 Russian Banks From SWIFT