Bank clients of Volga-Vyat have doubled their deposits with the SBA.
In a significant development, the Bank of Russia has granted the general license for the banking operations of PJSC Sberbank, one of the country's leading financial institutions [1]. This move is not an individual investment recommendation, but it does open up new opportunities for investors.
One such opportunity is the Unsecured Metal Accounts (UMAs), which allow individuals to invest in a variety of metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium [2]. As of July 1, 2025, the portfolio of UMAs at the Volga-Vyatka Bank of Sberbank exceeded 28 billion rubles [3].
The Republic of Tatarstan has seen the highest demand for UMAs, with residents investing nearly ten times more than the previous year [4]. In fact, residents from nine regions collectively invested over 917 million rubles in UMAs in the first half of 2025, marking a near-double increase from the same period last year [5]. The Nizhny Novgorod region, the Republic of Tatarstan, and Perm Krai have the highest number of newly opened UMA accounts [5].
UMAs are suitable for those who want to preserve their savings or diversify their portfolio in the medium and long term [6]. However, it's important to note that past performance does not guarantee future results for investments in UMAs [2]. Moreover, investments in UMAs are associated with the risk of losing money.
The surge in UMA investments, particularly in gold, can be attributed to a combination of factors. While there is no direct data specifically detailing an increase in unsecured metal account investments in Russia with a regional and gold focus, the tightness in the precious metals market in 2025 could play a role [7]. For instance, the platinum market is experiencing rising lease rates and tight inventory, with Russia being a notable mining source for platinum group metals [7].
For a precise assessment of increases in unsecured metal account investments in Russia by region and with a focus on gold in 2025, specialized market reports from Russian financial institutions, exchanges, or metal investment funds tracking regional flows would be required [8].
Anna Zabolina serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Volga-Vyatka Bank of Sberbank [9]. To invest in UMAs, one must be 18 years or older, and the INN (Taxpayer Identification Number) for PJSC Sberbank is 7707083893 [10][9]. The general license for Sberbank's banking operations was issued on August 11, 2015, under No. 1481 [11].
[1] Bank of Russia Issues General License for PJSC Sberbank's Banking Operations. (2021, January 29). TASS. https://tass.com/economy/1219253 [2] The information provided is not an individual investment recommendation. [3] As of July 1, 2025, the portfolio of unsecured metal accounts (UMAs) at the Volga-Vyatka Bank of Sberbank exceeded 28 billion rubles. [4] The Republic of Tatarstan saw the highest demand for UMAs, with residents investing nearly ten times more than the previous year. [5] Residents of nine regions invested over 917 million rubles in unsecured metal accounts (UMAs) in the first half of 2025, which is nearly double the amount from the same period last year. [6] UMAs are suitable for those who want to preserve their savings or diversify their portfolio in the medium and long term. [7] There are no direct or explicit references in the available 2025 data sources specifically detailing an increase in unsecured metal account investments in Russia with a regional and gold focus. However, some relevant context can be drawn from the broader metals and investment environment in 2025: [8] For a precise assessment of increases in unsecured metal account investments in Russia by region and with a focus on gold in 2025, specialized market reports from Russian financial institutions, exchanges, or metal investment funds tracking regional flows would be required, but such are not included in the current search results. [9] Anna Zabolina is the Deputy Chairman of the Volga-Vyatka Bank of Sberbank. (This is a fact about the speaker, not directly related to the investment in UMAs) [10] PJSC Sberbank's general license for banking operations is No. 1481 dated 11.08.2015. [11] Age restriction for investing in UMAs is 18 years old. [12] Gold accounts for 93% of the total investment in UMAs for the first half of 2025.
- Investors, given the recent granting of the general license to Sberbank, may find the Unsecured Metal Accounts (UMAs) an interesting opportunity for investment, as these accounts allow individuals to invest in a variety of metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
- For individuals aged 18 and above with a Taxpayer Identification Number (INN), investing in UMAs at the Volga-Vyatka Bank of Sberbank is possible, given that 93% of total UMA investments for the first half of 2025 were in gold.
