Starting September 1, 2025, individuals in Russia will be able to use a new service allowing them to designate a trusted person—such as a relative or friend—to confirm or reject banking transactions that appear suspicious. The Central Bank of Russia announced the measure as an additional layer of protection against financial fraud.
The authorized individual will not have direct access to the account nor the ability to carry out transactions independently. Their role is limited to confirming or rejecting specific fund transfers when prompted.
According to the Bank of Russia, this initiative is designed to protect vulnerable groups, particularly older adults who are often targeted by scammers. It also aims to help parents oversee their teenagers’ banking activities, reducing risks associated with schemes where young people unknowingly participate in illegal operations.
“Twelve hours are given from the moment of notification to confirm or reject a transaction. Only the client may initiate the connection of the service. Each bank decides on the way of connecting the service independently. If the client rejects the service, the bank will be obliged to disconnect it within 24 hours. This cooling-off period will reduce the risk of disconnecting the ‘confirming hand’ option under fraudsters’ influence,” according to information provided by the Central Bank.
The procedure applies broadly across different types of fund transfers, including those made with bank cards, through Russia’s Faster Payments System, and cash withdrawals.
Banks are responsible for determining how customers can activate this feature. If a customer chooses to discontinue using it, banks must comply and remove access within one day.
This move comes amid ongoing efforts by Russian authorities and financial institutions to counteract rising incidents of banking fraud targeting both elderly citizens and younger account holders.
