Bank websites have stopped opening in foreign browsers: opinions

      Recently, information has emerged online that some Russian banks have stopped opening in foreign browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox. We checked: when trying to access the websites of Sberbank, Alfa-Bank, VTB, Rosselkhozbank, UralSib, and PSB, the Chrome browser indicates that the connection is not secure, and manually navigating to the sites is unsafe. Meanwhile, the websites of T-Bank, Bank Khlunov, Gazprombank, Sovcombank, and Raiffeisenbank open normally. At least for now.

      What’s the essence

      Problems with accessing bank websites—and other Russian sites—have arisen due to the revocation of foreign SSL certificates, RBC reports. One of the largest global certification centers, GlobalSign, began revoking them back in June.

      An SSL certificate is a so-called digital "passport" of a website. It confirms the authenticity of the resource and guarantees that the user has connected to the intended site rather than a counterfeit one. The certificate also encrypts traffic between the browser and the server, preventing interception. It is responsible for the padlock icon and the HTTPS protocol in the address bar.

      After the revocation of foreign SSL certificates, Russian authorities suggested that users install security certificates from the Ministry of Digital Development. These can be downloaded from the "Gosuslugi" website, where there are also installation instructions. Additionally, users can install "Yandex Browser," which already has these certificates. It correctly opens both bank websites and all other Russian sites.

      The Ministry of Digital Development notes that installing their SSL certificates is safe. It will not affect the operation of computers or phones.

      Thus, users who encounter problems accessing necessary sites have three options: either switch to "Yandex Browser," install the Ministry of Digital Development certificates, or do nothing. In the latter case, they can ignore the warning about an insecure connection and manually navigate to a site, such as a bank's. However, in this case, the browser cannot guarantee that the site is reliable and that the user will reach exactly where they want. All risks will have to be borne by the user.

      Opinions

      We reached out to experts to ask what consequences this situation might have for Russians and whether problems accessing online banks could lead to an increase in cash usage in the country.

      Natalia Milchakova, leading analyst at Freedom Global:

      "In Russia, according to open-source data, in July 2026, the national 'Yandex Browser' had 51 million users, but foreign Google Chrome had almost as many—about 48 million. Some other well-known foreign browsers in Russia had, for example, 13 million users for Microsoft Edge and 8 million users for Mozilla Firefox in July, which is significantly less than 'Yandex Browser' and Chrome, but they still hold a considerable market share. If we consider that the number of internet users in Russia is approximately 106 million, it turns out that although 'Yandex Browser' is the market leader in Russia, its share significantly lags behind the combined share of the three well-known foreign browsers.

      This means that the browser market in Russia is still controlled by foreign service providers. And this means that ordinary citizens using internet banking services through websites rather than mobile applications will now have to install Russian browsers to continue using their banks' services in the formats they are accustomed to.

      Investors in bank stocks and bonds traded on the stock exchange, if they have not already started using bank websites through the national browser, will now find it more difficult to read bank reports, having to access the sites through a different browser than the one they are used to. Access to reports is important to ensure the normal financial condition of the issuers of their securities. The same can be said for analysts, possibly auditors, and other business partners of the largest banks, etc.

      Access to bank websites through foreign browsers will not directly affect the growth of cash volume, but this situation may create a negative news background that increases uncertainty, which, accordingly, may at some point motivate bank depositors to withdraw funds simply as a precaution. However, we do not expect a rise in panic due to the fact that clients of some banks will have to change browsers to access their websites, especially since among the clients of some large state banks affected by these restrictions, there are many retirees who do not visit the websites of these credit institutions at all, do not download mobile applications, and some do not even use the internet."

      Igor Dodonov, analyst at FG "Finam":

      "At the moment, it is difficult to assess the scale of the problem; for example, I can still access the websites of leading banks through Chrome or Edge without any security warnings. But in principle, as I understand it, access difficulties can be easily resolved by installing Russian security certificates from the Ministry of Digital Development, and many banks, as reported, have already issued corresponding instructions. Additionally, bank websites can still be accessed through 'Yandex Browser.' So I do not expect any serious consequences for citizens.

      Nevertheless, the situation may further contribute to more people wanting to keep part of their savings at home in cash, so to speak, just in case."