Sberbank president German Gref announced plans to maintain and improve the bank's physical branch network despite ongoing digitalization. Speaking at the Digital Solutions forum on October 7, 2026, Gref noted that customers are not yet ready to fully transition to digital-only services, and the bank intends to follow client demand.
The bank previously attempted to phase out certain offline services, such as passbooks, but faced significant negative customer feedback. Gref stated that Sberbank has avoided such abrupt changes for over a decade, emphasizing that forcing digital adoption can lead to client rejection.
Gref also addressed the competition between state services and private business. He urged government officials to recognize the limits of their efficiency, noting that state involvement in digital service markets can reduce incentives for commercial innovation. He specifically mentioned ongoing efforts to resolve payment synchronization issues for traffic fines.
Despite Gref's statements, Sberbank remains the leader in branch closures. According to RBC, the bank closed approximately 900 offices in 2025. Data from the Central Bank shows that across the Russian banking sector, 483 offices were closed in the first quarter of 2026, leaving 21,870 branches in operation as of April 1, 2026.
