The Central Bank of Russia has launched an anonymous tip-off service to track down shadow bank executives
The Central Bank of Russia has expanded its reporting service regarding the controlling persons of financial organizations. Russians can now anonymously report to the regulator not only the beneficial owners but also the people who effectively manage banks and other financial institutions without holding official positions.
Previously, the Central Bank had called for reports on individuals who are the beneficial owners of financial organizations. Now, the service has been extended to include so-called “shadow executives.”
The Central Bank of Russia explained that this refers to people who can actually make decisions at a bank, insurance company, or other financial institution, even though they are not formally part of the management.
“Shadow executives are people who can actually make decisions at a bank, insurance company, or other financial organization but are not formally listed as part of the management, for example: advisors or assistants who, in practice, issue all instructions; individuals acting under a power of attorney and using it to control the organization; and those who can compel the official management to take certain actions,” the Central Bank stated.
Thus, the regulator is attempting to establish not only the formal ownership structure but also the actual chain of control over financial institutions.
The issue has become particularly relevant amid the risk of sanctions against Russian businesses and the financial sector.
Some beneficiaries of Russian companies and banks have begun to relinquish formal ownership of assets and may attempt to exercise control through proxies.
For Russian authorities, this makes it more difficult to determine who actually controls the assets and makes key decisions.
The Central Bank specifically emphasizes that the applicant is not required to disclose personal information.
“The applicant’s anonymity is guaranteed—no personal data needs to be provided,” the regulator emphasizes.
Thus, the Russian Central Bank has effectively created a mechanism for anonymous reports regarding potential hidden managers and controllers of financial institutions.
This is reported by Russian media.
Throughout 2025, Russian citizens submitted nearly 150,000 reports of alleged violations to the Federal Security Service via “hotlines.”
