Tinkoff Bank is testing among its employees the calls function from a mobile app, Banki.ru portal reports citing Vedomosti.

The function will allow to call from the virtual number of the mobile operator (Mobile Virtual Network Operator, MVNO) Tinkoff Mobile without a SIM card.

“We are testing on a small number of employees the mobile app function, similar to the ones of WhatsApp and WiFi calling,” a bank representative said, adding that decisions will be made based on the results of the test.

The function will work within the “Number without a SIM card” tariff, which is valid in Moscow, the Moscow Region and outside of Russia. Voice communication takes place through the Tinkoff Bank app for which only the Internet is needed.

The tariff includes 100 free minutes to Russian numbers. After the free minutes expire, one minute of conversation will cost 3.9 rubles. The cost of outgoing calls to another country starts from 3.9 rubles. Calls to Tinkoff Mobile numbers are free.



Experts note that in the banking segment of operators no one has yet introduced the function of calling from an app to third-party numbers, and described the idea as interesting. It is also noted that Tinkoff’s plans can also be explained with the company’s “superapp” strategy and its goal to keep users in its ecosystem by aggregating all services on one platform.

“It is very convenient to have integrated calls function from the mobile application, primarily to make it easier for the client to contact the bank’s services. The practice of calling through the app can increase the volume of customer contacts with the application, which stimulates the use of it and, as a result, the bank’s services,” Alexei Boyko, an analyst at MForum agency, said.

Tinkoff launched a mobile operator in December 2017. In December 2019, its subscriber base reached 1 million people. Based on the results of 2022, the MForum agency estimated the number of Tinkoff Mobile subscribers in 1.5 million.

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