"VTB Mobile": review of tariffs, pros and cons, how to connect

Date: September 24, 2022 | Updated: October 26, 2022 | Author: Moblie-man

VTB Mobile is a new virtual cellular operator in Russia from VTB Bank, which opened sales of SIM cards on September 25, 2019. VTB Mobile, like many other virtual services, operates on the Tele2 network and offers relatively inexpensive communication packages, and VTB Bank clients have the option to use the operator’s services for free or with a significant discount for pensioners.

Will VTB Mobile take off?

Not really!

Current version. Information updated October 22, 2021

Tariff designer "VTB Mobile": detailed description

General conditions for all packages:

• All incoming calls are free and unlimited.
• Outgoing calls within the VTB Mobile network are free, unlimited and do not consume minutes from the package in the tariff.
• All packages include 50 SMS messages to any mobile numbers in Russia.
• There are no roaming surcharges in Russia (except for Crimea and Sevastopol, prices here).
• Minutes of calls in packages to any numbers in the Russian Federation, no matter landline or mobile.
• VTB Bank clients have the opportunity to pay up to 100% for communication services under the Multibonus loyalty program.

Prices for calls above packages

The operator provides a number of services that are not included in the subscription fee and are paid separately.

• Calls to numbers of other operators in Russia when the limit is exceeded - 1.5 rubles per minute;
• Calls to subscribers living in the CIS countries - 30 rubles per minute;
• Calls to European and Baltic countries – 49 rubles per minute;
• Calls to other countries will cost subscribers 69 rubles per minute.

If the subscriber does not have enough messages included in the subscription fee, then they are also paid separately. SMS messages within your home region and intercity will cost 2 rubles apiece. The cost of international SMS is 5 rubles per piece.

VTB Mobile tariffs (ready-made packages offered by the operator)

For owners of the Prime package

"Investor Prime"

Broker commission for transactions is 0.03455% of the amount.

Exchange commission for transactions is 0.01% of the amount.

Service fee - 150 ₽ per month, if there was at least one transaction with securities. Transactions with currency and the derivatives market are not taken into account. If there were no deals, it’s free.

"Professional Prime"

The commission for transactions depends on the daily turnover*:

• Up to 1 million ₽ - 0.04248%;
• From 1 to 5 million ₽ - 0.02596%;
• From 5 to 10 million ₽ - 0.02242%;
• From 10 to 50 million rubles - 0.01888%;
• From 50 to 100 million ₽ - 0.015%;
• More than 100 million ₽ - 0.012%.

Exchange commission for transactions is 0.01% of the amount.

Service fee - 150 ₽ per month, if there was at least one transaction with securities. Transactions with currency and the derivatives market are not taken into account. If there were no deals, it’s free.

*Turnover is the sum of transactions for the purchase and sale of securities and foreign currency from 19:00 of the previous trading day to 19:00 of the current trading day.

Exception:

commission is not charged for transactions with federal loan bonds for individuals (OFZ-n), as well as for transactions with VTB funds through the VTB My Investments application.

Tariff designer "VTB Mobile"

Constructor Tinkoff Mobile

Subscribers have the opportunity to create their own tariff plan, select the options they are interested in and the amount of traffic, SMS and minutes. The subscriber can independently apply all this for himself, so that it is comfortable to use.

In order to configure a suitable tariff, you need to look at the official Tinkoff Mobile page and take the following steps:

On the scale, set the desired service, the amount of time or traffic you need. SMS messages are added to the desired option by pressing a button on the tariff constructor. If the client has a need, he activates unlimited access to services and social networks.

The monthly cost of the received tariff is calculated automatically.

The subscriber independently determines whether certain functions are included in the tariff plan, what the monthly restrictions are and the price. If the characteristics entered from the beginning do not satisfy the client’s needs, then they can be expanded if you need to increase the required limits.

Additional options for minutes and traffic packages

• Unlimited instant messengers Viber, WhatsApp and TamTam - free in packages starting from 15 GB. or 500 minutes, or 50 ₽ per month on smaller packages.
• Unlimited viewing of YouTube and Twitch - free in a 30 GB package. + 1000 minutes or 200 ₽ per month.
• Social networks VKontakte, Facebook, Odnoklassniki and Instagram - free in a 15 GB package. + 200 minutes or more, or 50 ₽ per month.
• Unlimited for Yandex Maps, Yandex Navigator and Yandex Transport - free in a 30 GB package. + 200 minutes or 50 ₽/month.
• Unlimited music in the Zvooq service - free in a 30 GB package. + 1000 minutes or 50 ₽ per month.

Mobile business

VTB launched a mobile operator, but not just a simple one - a virtual one. VTB Mobile will operate on the basis of Tele2, reports the press service of the credit institution. Most of the infrastructure also belongs to Tele2. VTB's powers include development, maintenance and promotion of the project.

You will be able to test the service and connect to VTB Mobile without becoming a bank client. Currently, a virtual operator SIM card can be purchased at five VTB Moscow offices. By the end of the year, SIM cards will appear in most Moscow branches. In October, residents of St. Petersburg will be able to connect. And in 2022, VTB plans to expand the virtual mobile operator to 15 regions.

Photo: vtbmobile.ru

Additional packages to the tariff

Under the terms of the “Auto-renewal” option, traffic and minutes packages are automatically connected to all subscribers if they have run out in the package (this can be disabled in your personal account or application):

• Additional traffic package 1 GB. — 50 ₽.
• Additional package of 100 minutes of calls - 50 ₽.

Additional packages of minutes and traffic are also available, which you can connect yourself:

• Calls: 100 minutes - 50 ₽, 500 minutes - 200 ₽, 1,000 minutes - 300 ₽.
• Traffic: 1 GB. — 50 ₽, 3 GB. — 100 ₽, 10 GB. — 300 ₽, 20 GB. — 450 ₽.

All packages are valid for 30 days from the moment of connection. Unused remains are burned.

Comparison of mobile applications of banking MVNOs

Since virtual operators entered the market in different years, it is not entirely correct to compare them with each other, but the figures will give a general idea:

VTB has not one, but 3 applications for subscribers:

1. Basic VTB Mobile application.
2. “Start” is suitable for those who want to become a subscriber of a virtual operator without contacting a bank office. Its rating differs slightly from the basic VTB Mobile application, but the number of downloads is 10 times less.
3. “Agent” – applications for telecom operator partners for concluding agreements on the provision of communication services with subscribers of VTB Mobile LLC. To begin interaction, you will need to enter into a partnership agreement. The number of downloads and installations is minimal - only 10 times. The application does not have a rating yet.

From the data presented, it is obvious that the leader in the number of downloads is the Tinkoff Bank mobile application. At the same time, the rating of the SberMobile application is slightly higher both in the App Store and in Google Play. VTB and GPB Mobile are more likely to compete with each other than with the two market leaders. But according to the forecasts of the banks themselves, they will take their place in the niche of virtual telecom operators.

VTB Mobile tariff for pensioners

“VTB Mobile” together with VTB Bank, as part of the “Senior Generation” campaign, offer a discount on the simplest tariff plan in the amount of 101 ₽ per month for those pensioners who will receive a pension from VTB Bank, thus a 3 GB package. traffic + unlimited access to sites (list below), 50 SMS messages and 200 minutes of outgoing calls with unlimited calls within the network will cost 250, and 149 rubles per month. The discount is available starting from the second month!

The promotion period is from October 18, 2022 to December 31, 2022 (maybe it will be extended further).

How to get a discount:

• Write an application to VTB Bank to transfer your pension, open an account and receive a Mir card (If you already receive your pension from this bank, then skip this step);
• Either order a new SIM card (see how to connect below) or transfer your number to VTB Mobile while simultaneously selecting the “Constructor” tariff with the parameters 3 GB/200 minutes/50 sms per month;
• For the first month, 250 ₽ will be debited from the account, all subsequent months until 12/31/2022 the subscription fee will be debited at a discount and will be 149 ₽ per month;

Sites with unlimited access for pensioners on VTB Mobile

• VTB Bank - website vtb.ru, operator website - vtbmobile.ru, as well as access through official smartphone applications;
• Websites of the Pension Fund - pfrf.ru;
• Government services - gosuslugi.ru;
• Websites of the Government of Moscow and the Moscow Region - mos.ru and mosreg.ru;
• EGISSO - egisso.ru;
• Ministry of Labor - fbmse.ru;
• Website - stopcoronavirus.rf;
• Mosobleirts.rf;
• Accessible environment - zhit-vmeste.ru;
• Websites of the Department of Protection and Social Development of Moscow, EIRC of the Moscow and Leningrad regions - mosobleirts.rf, epd47.ru, id.epd47.ru;

Comparison of tariffs for pensioners from all telecom operators in Russia >>>

Why do banks need their own operator?

The younger generation and middle-aged people practically never part with their smartphones, so banks have to adapt to current realities. These customers make up the most promising group that is willing to spend money. Moreover, their incomes will only grow over the coming years, not fall. Most young and middle-aged people perceive going to the bank with a passport as an archaic relic, so they connect as many remote services as possible.

In such conditions, banks were forced to compete for the “attention” of customers with telecom operators through access to maximum mobility. Based on this, large credit institutions have three options:

1. Direct purchase of infrastructure from one of the mobile operators.
2. Building long-term partnerships.
3. Creation of your own virtual operator based on the already operating infrastructure of one of the existing mobile operators.

Each of these paths has been tried by different banks over different periods of time. Some tried to carry out a merger deal. Others launched their own network, but this was a very expensive project, and the final result and quality of communication were not at the highest level. The most productive format turned out to be the connection of virtual operators MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) based on a telecom operator already operating on the market and its infrastructure.

Four Russian banks took the third path:

• SberMobile, which was launched in 2016, the first testing and connection of SIM cards began on February 1, 2017;
• TinkoffMobile - from December 13, 2022;
• VTB Mobile – from September 1, 2022;
• GPB Mobile was launched later than everyone else, in December 2022.

The high rates of development of MVNOs were possible due to the fact that banks:

• wide customer base;
• customer trust;
• the technical ability to integrate a virtual operator into your own ecosystem.

But even with these advantages, it is difficult for banks to compete with incumbent telecom operators. However, if banks offer favorable tariffs in combination with a loyalty system to their customers, they will be able to take part in the redistribution of the mobile communications market. This turnaround is especially beneficial for TELE2 Russia, which cooperates with all four flagship banks that have launched MVNOs through this telecom operator.

Regions of Russia where connection to VTB Mobile is available

• Moscow and Moscow region;
• St. Petersburg and Leningrad region;
• Belgorod region;
• Volgograd region;
• Kaliningrad region;
• Kemerovo region;
• Omsk region;
• Perm region;
• Rostov region;
• Chelyabinsk region;

Connect and use communications from VTB! Is everything okay or not? Do you have any wishes? Describe your impressions of the work of the new operator and help other subscribers make a choice whether to connect or not. Leave a review >>>

Summary

The banks' plans to redistribute the market with leading mobile operators have not yet been achieved. SberMobile planned to increase its subscriber base to 3 million clients in 3 years, but it has not yet managed to reach these figures. Currently, virtual MVNOs for banks are unprofitable projects that require a lot of investment. At the same time, credit institutions intend to change this trend by offering eSim directly within their banking mobile applications.

The audience of online banking applications for smartphones is much wider than that of applications of banking telecom operators, so such a step should lead to a positive effect. For comparison:

1. Sberbank.Online on Android has more than 100 million downloads, while SberMobile has an audience of only about 100 thousand users.
2. Tinkoff has a similar picture. The banking application for accessing the online account on Android devices has been installed more than 10 million times, while Tinkoff Mobile has only been installed 1 million times.

The only limiting factor for customers is the ability to connect a virtual eSim card in their smartphone. But this limitation is gradually becoming insignificant. Over the first 9 months of 2020, 2.5 times more smartphones with eSim support were purchased in the Russian Federation than in 2022. All new generation phones already provide this technical capability, so in a few years there will be no problem.

But not all Russian banks are positive about the inclusion of MVNOs in their ecosystem. Most likely it is a matter of time. Banks analyze client interests and notice that the request for communication is not among the priority areas. For them, free transfers between cards, online accounting and convenient invoicing are more relevant. However, there is an assumption that over the horizon of 10-15 years the difference between a mobile operator and a bank will be completely erased. Therefore, in the coming years there are all prerequisites for new players from among other leading banks to enter the market.

Sources:

1. SberMobile website.
2. Tinkoff Mobile website.
3. VTB Bank page about its mobile operator.
4. GPB Mobile website.

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about the author

Klavdiya Treskova is an expert in the field of financial literacy and investment. Higher education in economics. More than 15 years of experience in banking. He regularly improves his qualifications and takes courses in finance and investments, which is confirmed by certificates from the Bank of Russia, the Association for the Development of Financial Literacy, Netology and other educational platforms. Collaborates with Sravni.ru, Tinkoff Investments, GPB Investments and other financial publications. [email protected]

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Pros and cons of VTB Mobile

pros

• Free communication for active clients of VTB Bank through the Multibonus program.
• Significant discount for pensioners under the “Senior Generation” program.
• The remaining minutes and traffic do not expire and are transferred to the next month. Fine.
• There are no extra charges for roaming within Russia.
• There are no restrictions on Internet distribution.
• There is no ban on the use of torrents.
• Where Tele2 does not have a network, VTB Mobile subscribers will automatically connect to the networks of MTS, MegaFon and Beeline (the corresponding agreements have already been signed). For subscribers, switching to other networks will be free, and the presence of such agreements with VTB-Mobile makes the coverage of the new operator’s “network” the largest in Russia (if you add together the coverage of MTS, MegaFon, Beeline and Tele2).
• The operator does not work with content providers, therefore subscribers are not exposed to mobile subscriptions.
• For transferring a number to its network, VTB Mobile pays subscribers 1000 ₽, which can be spent on communication services (in case anyone is interested).
• Without going to the office somewhere, you can connect the e-SIM and test the connection.
• …

Minuses

• VTB Mobile, like SberMobile and Gazprombank Mobile (Tinkoff Mobile does, by the way), does not allow you to connect to a package without traffic or without minutes. It is very uncomfortable. Not everyone uses the Internet from their phone.
• In terms of prices, I don’t see any advantage over competitors.
• Additional packages of minutes and traffic are automatically connected unless the subscriber disables them independently. I have already written many times that it is wrong for the operator to make decisions for the subscriber. People are able to decide for themselves what they need.
• The new operator means there are certainly problems with communication and Internet access at first.
• …

What are the benefits of the bank?

Launching their own virtual telecom operators helps banks achieve three goals:

1. Get a regular source of income. The monthly subscription fee for Russian mobile operators is on average in the range of 300-400 rubles. At the same time, half of the income received goes to pay for the infrastructure of the operator that provides MVNO communications. Even the sale of communication services to 10-25% of existing customers brings significant profit to the bank.
2. Increase customer loyalty and retention, as well as cross-sell other bank products. The more opportunities a person has in one place, the more convenient it is for him, and the higher the likelihood that he will not conduct transactions with competitors. This ultimately also increases the profitability of the service provider. Also, through participation in MVNOs, banks can promote higher-value products, such as mortgages or investment instruments.
3. Get access to the maximum amount of customer data and build your own scoring analytics. If a bank manages to lock a client inside its ecosystem, it receives a colossal amount of personal data and user preferences. Based on the analysis of the collected information, the subscriber will receive optimized and suitable offers. This means that the cost of advertising for the company will decrease, and the number of successful transactions will increase.

An additional advantage of banks is savings on SMS notifications and mailings. The company does not have to pay a third-party telephone operator for the provision of services; it informs customers through its mobile network.

Eventually

I did not see any competitive advantages from VTB Mobile, except for the prices for minutes and traffic above the package, which are cheaper than SberMobile. But this, I think, is not the main thing; usually, subscribers choose exactly the package of services that suits them, and do not focus on prices above the limit.

So far, the new operator is losing out to other virtual operators (compare tariffs at Tinkoff, SberMobile), except for Gazprombank Mobile. Unless the bank's clients (for whom I think everything is intended) will be interested in the opportunity to pay in full for communications through Multibonus bonuses.

What are the benefits for subscribers?

Bank clients also receive certain benefits when connecting to the services of a virtual operator of their servicing credit institution:

1. Each subscriber receives the most suitable comprehensive offer. For example, these could be packages - debit card, mobile communications, unlimited Internet or credit cards, bonus affiliate programs and unlimited communications abroad.
2. Registration of services within one ecosystem ultimately leads to savings on commissions and access to privileges. For example, accumulated points and bonuses can be spent on mobile communications, exchanged for gigabytes of the Internet, or used for purchases. Some companies credit cashback to your account for online payments using a smartphone that is connected to the bank’s telecom operator.

An additional advantage for users is time savings and a minimum of applications from different banks and operators, which one person will need to cover all their needs.

FAQ

• How to contact VTB Mobile support: call from a mobile number 800 , from a landline number 8-800-600-68-00 , if you are roaming, then call +7-495-980-88-00 .
• How to contact VTB Mobile support on social networks: official communities on VKontakte and Facebook.
• How to find out your number: team *200#.
• How to find out balance: command *100#.
• How to find out the balance of service packages: *101#.
• How to find out the list of available tariffs and options: command *202#.
• Where to download the VTB Mobile application: direct download links for IOS or Android.
• The subscriber’s personal account on the official website is available at: https://vtbmobile.ru/authorization.
• How to set up an access point (APN): simply enter the value “vtb” (without quotes, small letters) in the APN field. After this, it is better to reboot Android smartphones; on IOS, you can immediately use the mobile Internet.
• SMS number: +7-996-855-00-00.
• VTB Mobile coverage map in Russia.

List of telephone operators and their MCC codes

Perhaps you were looking for MCC codes for payment card transactions

MCC (English Mobile Country Code) - a mobile country code in combination with MNC is a unique identifier of a cellular operator of GSM, CDMA, iDEN, TETRA and UMTS networks, as well as some satellite operators. What is an MCC code can be read here. Code 901 is international and is used, for example, in satellite communications. MCC codes 000-099, 100-199, and 800-899 are reserved. You can get the operator and region by phone number here. You can get the operator and region by IP address here.

To get a list of operators in a given country, click on the MCC code ↓

Domain zones and whois servers for domain zones.

All geo-services.
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How to connect VTB 24 SMS alerts via the Internet

Banking involves not only making settlement transactions, but also obtaining information about the status of the account and the movement of funds. To inform the client, three packages are provided, which differ in the possibilities of additional settings and the amount of information for notification. After connecting to the VTB 24 SMS banking service, you can make settings in the application such that you receive messages only about events of interest and according to a specific schedule.

To receive SMS you need to select one of the packages:

• Base;
• Cards;
• Maps+.

Authorization

After selecting a convenient package, you need to activate it. There are two options for this procedure:

1. via VTB24-Online;
2. using an ATM.

If you have access to the Internet, the client can activate the alert service in VTB24-Online. To log in to the system, you need to log in - enter your username and password, and then:

• go to the Settings section, select the debit card from which the commission will be charged;
• enter the phone number of the VTB 24 mobile bank to which notifications will be sent;
• check the Connect item;
• Confirm your actions by pressing the OK key.

To activate the receipt of information, you can use a self-service device, but please note that you must use a card, from which money will subsequently be debited to pay for alerts (the debit can be made from credit funds). The client's action algorithm should be as follows:

1. insert the card and enter the PIN code;
2. select the Card and SMS management section and the operation type: SMS alert service;
3. press the Connect button;
4. enter the phone number of the card user to receive messages;
5. press the Continue button and confirm your actions;
6. receive a receipt with a service activation report.

Service cost

Sending SMS alerts when connecting to the Basic package and information to the client’s email is free of charge. For the Card and Card+ packages, a fee is provided for receiving information about completed transactions (they cost 59 rubles per month). In the first month, when connecting to the service for the first time, no payment is charged, payment is made from the second month. If there is no next payment, notifications do not arrive; they begin to arrive only after the payment is made. If there are no payments for 90 days, the service is automatically disabled.

Payments for receiving notifications are not made:

• those who signed the RKO agreement at the Platinum and Privilege tariff for the Card package;
• users of the Gold, Platinum, Privilege tariff for the Card+ package.

How to connect VTB mobile bank

To connect to banking, you must be a client of a financial institution, have a debit card and an agreement for cash settlement services (CSR). The card account user needs to visit a bank branch once with a passport and, in the presence of an employee of the institution, write an application independently. After this procedure, the client receives a login, password and a list of variable codes to enter the Personal Account.

You can connect banking yourself or with the help of a bank employee. Connection and remote maintenance are free of charge for all RKO package tariffs:

• Base;
• Classical;
• Gold;
• Platinum;
• Privilege.

Through the Internet

How to connect VTB 24 telebank via the Internet to a bank client? You need to select the Internet Banking section on the official website of the financial institution in the upper right corner and click on the VTB24-Online widget - a page opens that contains a window for entering your login and password. Nuances:

1. In the right corner there is a “?”, when you click on it, a hint pops up where you can get access codes.
2. The login is indicated (it can and must be changed) in the “Information” section of the agreement.
3. The password comes with an SMS message when connecting to banking.

After entering your login and password, you need to press the Login button, enter one of the received variable access codes on the next page and press the Login button again. After this operation, your Personal Account opens. When logging in again, you must select the next code from the list received. In case you lose your password, it is possible to recover it. You can change access codes (not variables only) after going from the More section to Settings and selecting “Change login or password”.

At the VTB 24 office

If there are difficulties connecting to banking, an employee at a branch of a financial institution can take the necessary steps to authorize a new user. For security reasons, you will subsequently need to change the provided login. To replace your access data, you first need to log into your Personal Account with your previous login, and then enter a new one in the provided cell.

Via ATM

How to connect mobile banking to VTB 24 via an ATM? You may not be able to register from all remote self-service devices because only some ATMs support this feature. To log into your Personal Account, you must have a bank card and take the following steps:

• insert the card into the ATM;
• enter your PIN code;
• select in the section Connecting services - VTB24-Online;
• log in using your login, password, code.