Investment tools, with a long-term outlook, distributed to approximately 4.3 million individuals residing in Russia
In the ever-evolving Russian financial landscape, Sberbank, the country's largest lender, is witnessing a significant shift in investor behaviour towards long-term investment tools. This trend is evidenced by the rapid growth in the use of Individual Investment Accounts of the third type (IIA-3) and the Long-Term Savings Program (LSP) at Sber.
The total investment in these tools at Sber has exceeded 341 billion rubles, with over 4.3 million Russians signing up for long-term investment tools. The LSP program, launched 1.5 years ago, is one of the largest in the savings market, attracting over 257 billion rubles and boasting 3.9 million contracts.
The number of IIA-3 accounts at SberInvestments has surpassed 400,000, accounting for 40% of the total assets on the IIA-3 market. In the first half of 2025, clients deposited five times more into IIA-3 accounts at SberInvestments than in the same period last year.
These findings are supported by a joint study conducted by Sber and UК "First," which indicates a qualitative shift in financial literacy among Russians and a strengthening of the planning culture. The study suggests that more Russians are ready to invest for periods longer than 2-3 years, but it does not provide specific figures or the exact nature of the state support mentioned.
The study also does not discuss the impact of the growing interest in long-term investments on the overall investment market in Russia or provide information on the specific long-term investment tools being considered by Russians.
Amidst this trend, Sberbank's Senior Vice President and Head of the "Wealth Management" block, Ruslan Westerowski, oversees the bank's strategy for long-term investment products. The bank's total assets on IIA-3 accounts have reached over 80 billion rubles, underscoring the growing popularity of these investment tools.
However, the broader financial landscape presents challenges. Russian financial markets are navigating a delicate balance between hope and risk, with geopolitical tensions and economic conditions influencing investor sentiment. Investors are advised to be cautious, focusing on sectors like energy and financials while hedging against risks.
Sberbank is expanding into digital assets, including offering custody services for cryptocurrencies. This could indicate a shift towards more innovative investment options, attracting interest from investors looking for diversified investment opportunities. However, the bank's CEO, German Gref, has expressed skepticism about the digital ruble, highlighting mixed views on digital financial innovations.
Russia faces economic challenges such as high interest rates and an overvalued ruble, which are impacting investment and economic growth. The economy is described as a "perfect storm," with predictions of a potential recession due to lower GDP growth.
In this context, while specific data on the growth of interest in LSP, IIA-3, and Life Insurance Participation Agreement (LIPA) is not available, the broader trends suggest that investors are seeking stable and innovative investment opportunities amidst economic uncertainty. State support is making long-term investment paths clear and achievable, but the exact nature of this support remains to be seen.
- In light of the increasing popularity of long-term investment tools such as Individual Investment Accounts of the third type (IIA-3) and the Long-Term Savings Program (LSP) at Sberbank, there is a growing interest in wealth management and personal finance, with more Russians ready to invest for periods longer than 2-3 years.
- Sberbank's Senior Vice President and Head of the "Wealth Management" block, Ruslan Westerowski, is overseeing the bank's strategy for long-term investment products, including the expanding venture into digital assets like cryptocurrencies, as investors seek stable and innovative investment opportunities amidst economic uncertainty.
