Russian banks have begun freezing money transfers between individuals based on the comments attached to payments, after automated systems started flagging certain wording as potentially risky.
According to data from the Association of Russian Banks cited by Prime on January 29, about 22% of peer-to-peer transfers now undergo additional checks because of messages left in the “message to recipient” field. The share of transfers blocked for this reason rose by 15% year-on-year in 2025.
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“Banking systems automatically analyze the ‘message to recipient’ field, and what you write there is extremely important,” said Aleksandr Khaminsky, head of the Center for Law and Order in Moscow and the Moscow region.
He explained that transfers are often blocked when comments suggest a private individual may be conducting commercial activity using a personal bank card. Words and phrases such as “order,” “rent,” “payment for services,” and “payment for goods,” as well as any wording that allows a transfer to be interpreted as business-related, are commonly flagged.
To avoid problems, Khaminsky advised users not to fill in the comment field at all, noting that any necessary details can be shared via text message or messaging apps. If a transfer is blocked, he said customers should immediately contact their bank and submit documents confirming the legality of the transaction.
“The key is to honestly and clearly show the bank that your transactions correspond to your declared activity or are for personal use and are not linked to money laundering or fraud,” Khaminsky said.
Russia is also taking steps to broaden state oversight by expanding the powers of its Defense Ministry to include access to citizens’ credit histories, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) reported.
According to the CCD, a draft order would authorize the head of Russia’s Main Military-Political Directorate to request information directly from financial institutions. The data would cover full credit records, including loans, outstanding debts, guarantors, and other financial details.
The initiative is being framed by Russian authorities as part of an anti-corruption drive. However, the Center stressed that the Main Military-Political Directorate is not an anti-corruption agency, but a body tasked with ideological control and so-called military-patriotic work within the armed forces. Granting it access to financial records would effectively combine ideological oversight with financial surveillance.
“Under the guise of anti-corruption efforts, Russia is building a system of control in which security agencies gain access to citizens’ personal and financial data. This is yet another step toward a military-police state,” the Center said.
Earlier, it was reported that Russians started facing blocked bank cards and frozen accounts when trying to pay for trips abroad.
The Russian Association of Tour Operators said the problem is linked to tighter monitoring of transfers made via the Fast Payment System, introduced as part of anti-fraud measures.
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