Sberbank's First Deputy Chairman Kirill Tsarev predicts the consumer lending market will contract by 3% in the first half of 2026, with recovery expected in the second half. Sberbank's own loan portfolio has seen growth since April and is projected to increase by 6% by year-end.
A leading Chinese university has bestowed a prestigious honorary academic title upon a Russian banker, who is under US sanctions. This award follows a partnership agreement between the university and the banker's institution focused on innovative development.
Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, expects the Bank of Russia to cut its key rate to 12-13% by the end of 2026, Deputy CEO Taras Skvortsov said. The Central Bank will maintain a cautious approach to monetary policy easing amid persistent proinflationary risks.
Sberbank reported a 16.5% year-on-year increase in net profit to 507.9 billion rubles ($6.74 billion) for Q1 2026, with return on equity reaching 24.4%. Net interest income rose 18.2% to 984.3 billion rubles, while the retail loan portfolio grew 2.5% to 19.7 trillion rubles and mortgage portfolio increased 3.5% to 12.9 trillion rubles.
