Russian business began to face the massive closure of accounts in the banks of Finland, as well as the refusal to open them. About this on the Russian-Finnish round table on banking topics reported the trade representative office of the Russian Federation in the country. The meeting report is posted on the department website.
The head of the trading of Anton Loginov noted that the problem was first manifested in 2015, but since then cases have become far from one. The situation threatens both Russian investors and the most Finnish economy, because often Russian companies are included in the list of major employers and taxpayers in specific regions.
As indicated in the department, about three billion dollars from Russia are invested in Finland. The projects involve such companies as Norilsk Nickel and Rosatom, but closed access to local banks inhibits the cooperation of the countries.
In response, the Department of Financial Control Department of Finland Pekki Vasara noticed that the tightening of the financial legislation of the European Union forces the Finnish banks attentively approach to the provision of services to foreign customers. It is about combating “laundering” of money, within the framework of which the credit institution should be the possibility of identifying the client and the real beneficiaries of the serviced company. In the case of companies from Russia, it is difficult to find such information that it becomes a reason for numerous failures.
The Russian side reminded that it does not face difficulties in other EU countries. In addition, Russia is not included in the list of high-risk countries, operations with which banks from the European Union must be particularly thoroughly verified.
Earlier, Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto said that soon the country will gradually refuse the purchase of oil in Russia. Already by 2035, the authorities intend to make the national economy carbon-neutral, which will reduce the consumption of hydrocarbons. At the same time, the process is already underway – in 2020, the purchase of Russian oil decreased by 16 percent compared with 2019.