OREANDA-NEWS. Sberbank and the Central Union of the Consumer Societies of the Russian Federation signed an agreement on mutually beneficial cooperation. The agreement was struck at Sochi 2016 international investment forum. The document was signed by CEO, Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank Herman Gref and Chairman of the Council of the Central Union Dmitry Zubov.

The agreement implies cooperation in the sphere of using banking products and services wherever the Central Union is present (over 2,400 consumer societies). The following areas will be developed: the possibility to carry out campus projects to issue bank cards for students of the system of cooperative higher and secondary-level education and joint educational programmes for 100,000 people, projects related to corporate social responsibility, the development of new financial products and services of Sberbank for small and medium-sized enterprises, and financing major infrastructural projects of consumer cooperation development.

In addition, Sberbank and the Central Union of Consumer Societies of the Russian Federation are planning to cooperate on participation in partnership programmes, including the “Thank You From Sberbank” programme, cash management services, cash-in-transit services, financial consulting and cash flow optimization, the use of the Sberbank Business Online system and the bank’s other services for corporate clients.

The Central Union of Consumer Societies of the Russian Federation is a voluntary union of Russian consumer societies. It unites over 3,000 consumer societies and around 4 million shareholders all over the country. The Central Union is a member of the International Co-operative Alliance.