Russia is planning to launch a new project in 2019, LikeBank set to operate exclusively in messengers, said Elliot Goykhman, whose working experience covers several large Russian banks.

He explained on his Facebook page that the “lightweight” virtual bank is designed for self-employed people. “We will surround with care the growing segment of the self-employed, turning the financial routine of a freelancer into a simple voice command,” said Goykhman.

LikeBank clients can expect to be able to manage their finances via messenger apps Facebook Messenger, Viber, Telegram and probably WhatsApp, Banki.ru reports.

Users become clients with an invitation link, which takes the user instantly to the chatbot in the given messenger. Once their phone number is confirmed, the client can choose one of the three options of servicing: without identification, with remote identification by passport number, or with full identification.

The more personal data the natural person enters, the more services are available to them. In fact, it is other clients who will conduct full identification, not LikeBank staffers or couriers.

“If you think about it, any person with some sort of agent agreement with the bank can fulfill the functions of the courier, apart from card delivery,” noted Goykhman. According to him, the clients will receive payments for identification operations.

LikeBank will not have a license. Goykhman said it is a project by a large Russian bank but declined to disclose the name of the bank.

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