21 Jun 2012 12:34

Sberbank agrees with VTB on need for Central Bank to issue forex loans

ST.PETERSBURG. June 21 (Interfax) - Sberbank chairman German Gref said he thought the Central Bank ought to provide forex loans.

"I fully support this," Gref told reporters, adding that the bank had suggested the CB provide forex resources to other banks on several occasions.

All central banks do this, Gref said. "It's a way of providing the market with forex liquidity and easing pressure on the ruble, he said.

VTB chairman Andrei Kostin has also suggested that the CB provide forex loans as an anti-crisis measure.

Gref said he could not yet assess the need for indefinite subordinated loans because he was not familiar with the idea.

In general he said the government was going the right way about drafting anti-crisis measures.