Which Russian banks open accounts for foreign companies in 2026. Required documents, timeline, and what to do if a bank refuses. Practical guide.
The situation in 2026: which banks work with foreign companies
Required documents for account opening
Timeline: how long does it take
RUB account vs multi-currency account
What to do if the bank refuses
Opening a bank account for a foreign-owned Russian entity is possible in 2026, but the landscape has changed significantly since 2022. Major Western-affiliated banks have exited Russia. Several Russian banks with foreign parent companies have been restructured or renamed.
The banks actively working with foreign-owned Russian entities include:
Sberbank — Russia's largest bank, works with foreign-owned LLCs, longer KYC process
VTB — state-owned, accepts foreign-owned entities with proper documentation
Gazprombank — good for energy and industrial sectors, active with Asian companies
Alfa-Bank — one of the more commercially oriented banks, faster onboarding
Tinkoff Business (T-Bank) — digital-first, works with smaller companies, faster account opening
Sovcombank — increasingly active with companies from China, Turkey and UAE
Banks from the "unfriendly countries" list — or subsidiaries of Western banks — will typically not open new accounts for foreign-owned entities. This includes entities owned by companies from the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia and other sanctioning jurisdictions.
The standard document package for a foreign-owned Russian LLC to open a bank account:
Certificate of state registration (ОГРН)
Certificate of tax registration (ИНН)
Current extract from EGRN (not older than 30 days)
Charter (Articles of Association)
Decision or minutes on appointment of the director
Director's passport and registration address confirmation
Proof of legal address (lease agreement or ownership document)
Foreign parent company documents (with apostille + notarised Russian translation):
Certificate of incorporation
Extract from commercial register (not older than 3–6 months depending on the bank)
Charter or constitutional documents
Beneficial ownership declaration — identifying all individuals who ultimately own more than 25%
Bank statement for the foreign parent (last 3–6 months) — some banks require this to assess AML risk
Banks also conduct an internal KYC interview with the director and may request additional documentation depending on the company's industry and transaction profile.
Practical support for international business in Russia.