Russian banks, including VTB, have begun utilizing the domestic MAX platform to provide customer service. This follows instructions from President Vladimir Putin to transfer government services, departments, and financial institutions to the Russian-developed messenger platform.

VTB was among the first financial organizations to implement the platform, enabling customers to make payments, transfer funds, and conduct other transactions directly through the messenger.

A chatbot launched on the platform in March provides advice to clients on 1,900 topics. Future plans for VTB’s digital bank on MAX include the addition of everyday services, access to popular products, and customizable features.

Olga Skorobogatova, First Deputy President and Chairman of the VTB Board, emphasized the client demand for convenient payments and transfers within messenger platforms, highlighting the domestic messenger’s integrated banking services as a comprehensive and modern solution. VTB’s chatbot and digital bank are also available on VKontakte, serving approximately 2 million users.

MAX, developed by VK, is a digital platform integrating a messenger, payment service, chatbots, mini-applications, the GigaChat 2.0 neural network assistant, YCLIENTS notification services, and Ozon Travel travel organization.