The Central Bank of Russia announced it will supervise buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) operators under laws adopted by the State Duma that set requirements for BNPL operators and their agreements with sellers and buyers. The framework bans pricing practices that disguise interest on deferred payments and introduces limits on late payment fees. Under the new rules, sellers and BNPL intermediaries cannot set different prices for the same product depending on whether it is paid in instalments or with cash. BNPL operators must also submit information to a credit history bureau when an individual’s liabilities to the operator exceed RUB 50,000, supporting banks’ and microfinance organisations’ assessment of debt service-to-income ratios in loan and microloan decisions. The maximum zero-interest period for BNPL services will be reduced in stages to six months from 1 April 2026 and to four months from 1 April 2028. The laws take effect on 1 April 2026.
Central Bank of Russia 2025-07-22
Central Bank of Russia to supervise BNPL operators under new State Duma laws banning hidden charges and requiring credit bureau reporting
The Central Bank of Russia will supervise buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) operators under new laws prohibiting pricing practices disguising interest and setting limits on late payment fees. The framework mandates BNPL operators report liabilities over RUB 50,000 to credit history bureaus and standardizes product pricing regardless of payment method. The maximum zero-interest period will be reduced to six months by April 2026 and to four months by April 2028.