The Central Bank of Russia issued an ordinance requiring banks to let customers make consumer-to-government payments through the Faster Payments System. The fee-free option will cover payments such as childcare and extracurricular activities, taxes and fines, and must be available through public and municipal service portals, government agency websites and public-sector customer service points. The requirement will apply to the largest credit institutions from April 1, 2027, and to banks with a universal licence from October 1, 2027. Individuals and banks will pay no fees for these transactions. A separate cash-in service now allows customers to fund an account at one bank by depositing cash at another bank’s ATM, although banks may choose whether to offer it.