In the Duma, they proposed to shorten the time to return money to the card after canceling a purchase
Russian lawmakers have proposed a major change to refund rules for cancelled purchases. Under the new plan, banks would have just 24 hours to return money to customers’ cards. Currently, refunds can take up to 10 days to process.
The push for faster refunds began with Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, Boris Chernyshov. He formally requested the change from Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina. The goal is to cap refund processing time at one day, significantly speeding up returns for consumers.
On October 9, 2025, Nabiullina also received a similar request from the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s federal consumer rights watchdog. Both calls emphasise the need to strengthen protections for shoppers. The measure targets delays that often leave customers waiting for extended periods after purchase cancellations.
If approved, the new rule would force banks to process refunds within a single day. This would replace the current 10-day window and provide quicker access to funds for consumers. The proposal now awaits further review by the Bank of Russia.
