OREANDA-NEWS. TCS Group Holding PLC (TCS LI) (the "Group"), Russia's leading provider of online retail financial services, including Tinkoff Bank (the "Company") and Tinkoff Insurance, today announces that Tinkoff Bank launched the mobile messenger with instant in-chat money transfer functionality - MoneyTalk. The application was developed entirely in-house by the bank.

Oliver Hughes, CEO of Tinkoff Bank, commented on the new product: "In line with its mobile expansion strategy, Tinkoff Bank works to offer not just its clients, but a wide range of users the most demanded and highly sought-after payment and financial services. Not long ago Facebook announced a full-scale roll-out of a money transfer service for all users of its Messenger app in the USA (since March 2015, the feature had been available for the social network's users only). Tinkoff Bank continues the trend of combining messenger and instant money transfer functions, and we are glad to pioneer this technology on the Russian market".

Maxim Yevdokimov, Vice President of Mobile at Tinkoff Bank, commented on the MoneyTalk launch: "We have merged two of the most popular services: a messenger and instant money transfers. MoneyTalk allows users to get or send money with a touch of a finger right in their chat window, without getting distracted or having to use other services. We are making financial products simpler and more accessible for a wider audience".

A brief how-to guide on using Tinkoff Bank's MoneyTalk messenger:

1.   Download MoneyTalk from  App Store, Google Play or Windows Phone Store and install it on your mobile device.

2.   Register your phone number in the system (both Russian and international numbers are supported).

3.   Add a card from any Russian bank for future convenience to automatically receive any incoming transfers.

4.   Choose a contact and send them a text, picture or money transfer.  As you are typing in numbers, the rouble button will light up, and tapping it will confirm the transfer. The money will be transferred as soon as you enter the 3D Secure confirmation code.

5.   If the recipient is already a MoneyTalk user (has installed the app and added a card), the money will be automatically transferred to his or her paired card. If the recipient does not have MoneyTalk, it is not a problem. He or she will receive a text message with a link to a web form, where they can enter any Russian card number and get the transfer.

Transfers between Tinkoff Bank debit cards are always charge-free. The charge for transferring money to another bank's card is 1.5% of the amount, but no less than RUB 30. Every app user gets a welcome free-of-charge bonus transfer of an amount of up to RUB 3,000 to any bank's card. The maximum amount of a single transfer is RUB 75,000.

The MoneyTalk messenger is completely safe and meets the same security requirements and standards as the rest of the Tinkoff Bank products. Specifically, it is PIN-protected, and the cardholder's data is encrypted.

Starting late 2013, Tinkoff Bank has been actively pursuing the strategy of developing mono applications available for everyone's use, not just for the bank's clients. This strategy has already seen the launch of such applications as Tinkoff Mobile Wallet, Traffic Fines, and Card 2 Card, a money transfer app.

About the bank

Tinkoff Bank is an innovative provider of online retail financial services operating in Russia through a high-tech branchless platform. The bank was founded in 2006 by a Russian entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov to service clients in the Russian financial services market. In 2009, the bank started to attract retail deposits, and is a member of the national deposit insurance system.

Being one of the leaders in the Russian credit card market, as of 1 March 2015, the bank issued over 5 mn credit cards. The bank is well capitalized: CBR N1 total capital ratio stood at 15.2% as of 1 February 2015.

Net income of the parent company TCS Group Holding PLC, which includes Tinkoff Bank and the insurance company Tinkoff Insurance, amounted to RUB 3.4 bn in 2014 (IFRS).

In 2013, The Banker magazine, the world's premier banking and finance resource and Financial Times Group member, named Tinkoff Bank the Bank of the Year and the most profitable bank in Russia. In 2012, Global Finance magazine and Banki.ru portal presented Tinkoff Bank with the Best Internet Retail Bank in Russia award. In 2014 and 2013, Tinkoff mobile bank app was recognized the best by Deloitte, and in 2014, the internet bank of Tinkoff Bank was deemed the most effective in Russia by Markswebb Rank & Report agency. Tinkoff Bank is a member of the deposit insurance system (The system guarantees each depositor of member banks the payout of RUB 1.4 mln on deposits and current accounts, including interest income).