Russian Central Bank Tells Banks To Defer Dividends, Bonuses

The Russian central bank on Friday told lenders to consider postponing dividends and bonus payments to managers, as it announced measures to ease regulatory requirements for the sector, Andrey Ostroukh and Elena Fabrichnaya reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: Earlier, all Russian banks sanctioned by the US bragged they have enough liquidity to meet clients' demands and are doing everything possible to calmly make it through this volatile period

The central bank is extending support to the banking sector and announced such help after Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting the US, UK, Germany, France, and the European Union (EU) to toughen sanctions against Russia.

Earlier, all Russian banks sanctioned by the US bragged they have enough liquidity to meet clients' demands and are doing everything possible to calmly make it through this volatile period, the banks said in a joint statement on Friday.

The banks said there were no restrictions at their ATMs or branches.

On the first day of the sanctions, Russian oligarchs and wealthy cronies of Russian President Vladimir Putin saw $39 billion wiped out of their pockets. Putin himself asked grumbling Russians they would have to live with economic restrictions and police arrested 1,000 anti-war protesters across Russia.

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