Alfa-Bank

Alfa-Bank stands out in Russia as a large bank with a stronger consumer-facing digital reputation than many old-style rivals. By our assessment, it is good at everyday banking in app-first form: cards, transfers, accounts and fast routines that people want to finish without a branch visit. The downside is that this kind of bank still depends on rules, product limits and the usual complexity of a big institution, so the experience is not as airy as the marketing sometimes suggests. In practice it feels more modern and more mobile than the most traditional banks, with online use doing a lot of the work. Alfa-Bank sits near the top tier of Russian retail banking and the catalogue places it in Russia.