In Moscow you will find all major Russian banks but also many branches of international banks. It is possible that your bank at home has either a branch office or a correspondent bank in Moscow, in which case you would be able to use the services just as you would in your home country.
Workers in branch offices of foreign banks usually speak English or other foreign languages. All ATMs are both in Russian and English. It is possible you will be charged a fee for withdrawing money, but the amount depends on your bank and the type of your card. You can also use traveller’s cheques.
Most common credit cards are usually accepted everywhere. Most used cards are Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Here are some of the international banks in Moscow:
BNP Paribas
Multiple locations in Moscow, phone: 700-7700
Citibank
Multiple locations in Moscow, phone: 775-7575
Deutsche Bank Ltd.
Schepkina str. 4, phone: 797-5000
HSBC Bank
Paveletskaya Square 2, building 2, phone: 721-1515
ING Bank Moscow
Krasnoproletarskaya str. 36, phone: 755-5400
Bank of Moscow
Multiple locations in Moscow, phone: 745-8000
The building that houses the offices of Renaissance Capital, one of Russia's biggest investment banks, is reflected in a traffic safety mirror in Moscow
Currency & exchange
The official currency in Russia is the rouble. It is divided into 100 kopeks, but they are used less and less in everyday life. One euro is about 40 roubles.
Banknotes are printed in 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 roubles. Coins come in the one, two and five roubles. The new 10-ruble coin was introduced in January 2010.
Credit cards are popular, but Russians tend to use cash for daily purchases, especially smaller ones. There are still many shops and restaurants that do not accept all cards, which is why it is wise to always have some cash with you.
You can exchange foreign currency in any bank in Moscow. Exchange rates in banks usually do not vary that much although they do change daily. There are many small exchange offices around the city, usually in shopping centres, metro stations, hotels, and other public places. US dollars and euros are the easiest currencies to exchange, although you can exchange all possible currencies to roubles. Most exchange offices are open only during the day, but there are some 24-hour offices.
The safest places for currency exchange are the offices of major banks. You should never try to exchange currency on the street, even though some individuals might offer very good exchange rates. Also the use of street exchange offices should be carefully considered, particularly if they seem suspicious.
Sources:
Guide.moscow.ru
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Here is our guide to banking in the Russian capital.
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