Russian authorities may make a number of steps to increase the capitalization of the country's banking system in case the economic situation worsens because of U.S. and EU sanctions, Prime news agency cited Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev as saying on Thursday.
Ulyukayev said one of those steps may be to allow state banks to direct funds to supplement their capital instead of paying dividends.
"In particular, we are discussing the possibility of helping banks direct funds, which would have been paid to the owners in a simple situation, including to the state as a major stakeholder, to supplement their capital," Ulyukayev said at a forum at the Moscow stock exchange.