The Central Bank of Russia reports the volume of loans given by Plato Bank to non-state for-profit organizations for 1 to 3 years had gone down by 22.77% (from 31.973 million RUR to 24.69 million RUR) by January 1, 2009.

‘The current laws that regulate the security agencies’ activity in Russia are really out of date and need to be replaced. However, the proposed changes meet neither these agencies’ needs nor the dictates of the time,’ says Oleg Borisov, General Director of Europe-Asia Information and Consulting Center, President of Ural Center of Nongovernmental Security Institutions Association, and member of the Academy of Security, Defense and Law-and-Order. Borisov comments upon the legislation enforced in February 2009: ‘As a matter of fact, the new law limits the private security agencies’ options and

Moody’s (the international rating agency) has recently downgraded Alfa-Bank’s financial stability rating from D+ to D. At the same time, the bank’s foreign and national currency deposit ratings were affirmed at Ва1/Not, Prime, while its subordinated debt rating (in foreign currency) was also affirmed at Ва1. Nevertheless, all of these ratings have been placed on the Rating Watch, with Negative Rating Outlook. Moody’s explains the rating demotion has to do with the increasingly troubled state of the Russian macro-economy, which, in its turn, leads to the weakening of businesses’ assets. The

Moscow Court of Arbitration declined the claim placed with it by Home Credit and Finance Bank Ltd and ruled in favor of the Russian Federation Federal Antimonopoly Service’s decision to fine the bank for violating the antimonopoly legislation through unfair competition. The fine was imposed on the bank on December 18, 2008. The Federal Antimonopoly Service stated on September 18, 2008 that Home Credit and Finance Bank had violated Article 14 (part 1, paragraph 1) of the Federal Bill on the Protection of Competition (disseminating inaccurate or false data that could damage other businesses)

Bank Severnaya Kazna’s (now the asset of Alfa-Bank) two additional offices closed down on February 19, 2009. One of the outlets is located in Pervouralsk (35a Vatutin St.), another one could be found at 44 Uralskikh Rabochikh St. in Verkhnyaya Pyshma. This information is available from Bank Severnaya Kazna’s official website.