Restrictions on Slovenia’s Sberbank banka on Monday and Tuesday

02/28/2022 / Press release

The sanctions against Russia because of its military aggression against Ukraine are already taking effect in the banking system, and banks under Russian ownership in Europe are now facing a loss of confidence. Consequently the European Central Bank and the Single Resolution Board today took the decision to suspend the operations of the Sberbank Europe AG banking group, which also has a subsidiary bank in Slovenia. A transition period or short-term moratorium has also been put in place, during which we will try to find a quick constructive solution for the Slovenian subsidiary bank, thereby ensuring that its customers suffer no disruption. The operations of Sberbank banka in Slovenia are thus restricted during this period to card operations; other services are temporarily unavailable, and branches are closed. Banka Slovenije should reiterate that Sberbank banka is the only bank in the Slovenian banking system that is under Russian ownership. All other banks are operating normally.

Stringent sanctions against Russia have been agreed at EU level because of the military aggression against Ukraine. The majority of these target the financial sector, with an emphasis on firms and financial institutions under Russian ownership. Banks under Russian ownership in Europe are therefore facing a loss of confidence.

The European Central Bank and the Single Resolution Board today took the decision to suspend the operations of the Sberbank Europe AG banking group, which also has a subsidiary bank in Slovenia. A short-term moratorium on the decision was also put in place, during which we will try to find a quick constructive solution for the Slovenian subsidiary.

For customers of Slovenia’s Sberbank banka, this means that from Monday morning to Wednesday morning the bank’s operations are restricted solely to payment card operations. Other services will be unavailable, and branches will be closed.

During this time we will try to find the right approach to resolving the bank to ensure that no disruption is faced by any of the bank’s customers. More detailed clarifications will be available on Tuesday.

Banka Slovenije should clarify that Sberbank banka is the only bank in the Slovenian banking system that is under Russian ownership. All other banks are operating normally.