Overview
- Sber, VTB, T‑Bank, Alfa‑Bank and Sovcombank sent a letter to the State Duma proposing to ban marketplace‑funded discounts and bonuses and to require a single price regardless of the payment instrument, with limited exceptions for own goods and socially significant categories.
- An expert council on the platform economy said it will forward its meeting protocol to the Duma and an interagency working group for further consideration.
- Sber stated the banks support discounts and convenient payment options but argue promotions should be available to all buyers irrespective of the card used, calling for clearer, uniform pricing rules.
- The Bank of Russia reiterated that item prices on marketplaces should not depend on the payment method and clarified it is not against discounts per se, which it says should be handled at the bank–client level.
- Marketplaces pushed back: Wildberries/RWB warned a ban on loyalty programs could raise consumer prices by 15–20% and worsen inflation, while Ozon disputed claims of a 'race to the bottom' and pointed to growth in platform financials and users.