Russian Carriers Delay Blocking Unlabeled Bank Calls to Nov 13

Russian mobile operators and banks have agreed not to restrict incoming calls from financial institutions until 13 November 2026, even if the calls carry no label. The Ministry of Digital Development confirmed the arrangement. Carriers had originally planned to begin blocking such calls on 15 October 2026.

The four largest operators, MTS, Beeline, MegaFon and T2, have sent the five biggest banks their proposed terms for call labeling. The banks now need time to review and sign the contracts, according to the ministry.

How the dispute arose

At the start of 2026, operators stopped labeling calls from large banks, as sources said at the time, because the lenders had not concluded agreements with the carriers. In September, the operators warned the ministry that from 15 October they would block calls from banks without a labeling agreement. The list of affected lenders included Sber, VTB, T-Bank, Alfa-Bank, Gazprombank, Renaissance Credit and Sovcombank.

The ministry asked the carriers to postpone the decision until early November. In mid-October, Russians began receiving bank calls marked with the names of third-party companies.

What the law requires

A law on mandatory labeling of calls from companies and sole proprietors was adopted in spring 2025, and its requirements took effect on 1 September of that year.

The ministry says the "overwhelming majority" of financial institutions have already signed contracts with operators. The remaining ones, including systemically important banks, are "at the stage of discussing and signing" such agreements.

For customers, the delay means calls from major banks should keep arriving for now. If contracts are not signed by 13 November, though, the blocking of unlabeled calls could come back onto the agenda.