Why on June 24, Muscovites did not rush to buy dollars and euros at exorbitant prices
On Saturday, the exchange rate reached 90-91 rubles per dollar and up to 110 rubles per euro, but on Sunday, after as the initial panic came to naught, dropped by a few rubles. However, the Russians, as it turned out, had already stopped reacting to hot news by pilgrimages to currency exchange offices, so there were few people who wanted to buy dollars at exorbitant prices. The correspondent of «MK» walked around the banks and found out: dollars and euros are really actively bought, but not against the backdrop of panic, but for the sake of planned trips abroad.
Most bank branches are closed on Sunday, but you can find attendants here and there. For example, one of these works in Zamoskvorechie — they offer to buy dollars there for 89 rubles, and euros for 95 rubles.
“There was no panic yesterday,” the teller said. “Although one man came and asked for a large sum, $5,000. At first I thought that he was one of the alarmists, but then he asked for a certificate of currency exchange with a seal. He said he needed to get a visa. So, it was not a spontaneous decision to exchange it. Although with the course, of course, he missed. It would be better to come earlier.
In general, according to the teller, an official certificate of currency exchange is a very popular document today. Previously, they were considered a mere formality, but today such certificates have turned into optimal “financial guarantees” for the consulates of those countries that continue to issue visas to Russians. Everything is logical: bank cards issued in the Russian Federation are blocked, therefore, a thick wad of cash is the only universal way available to Russians to pay abroad.
In another bank, the dollar on Sunday morning could be bought at 87.2 rubles, but the euro at 96.5. Here, according to the cashier-operator, there was some excitement among customers the day before, but in no way comparable to what was observed in February or September 2022.
— Well, for example, a lady came in yesterday. She photographed our plate with the exchange rate, sent it to someone, then called someone and discussed for a long time: should I buy the euro or not? Apparently, they didn’t agree to anything, so she left. Well, since she didn’t ask, I didn’t even check how many euros were in the cash desk now, ”the bank employee shared.
Meanwhile, as MK previously wrote, recently the situation with the availability of foreign currency at the box office has improved significantly. If six months ago you sometimes had to collect the necessary (large) amounts by arranging a list at all the surrounding exchange offices, today buying a couple of thousand dollars or euros is no longer a problem. The explanation lies on the surface: according to the banks themselves, 90% of customer transactions are for the sale of foreign currency, and not for the purchase — therefore, those who want to buy can do it calmly, actually taking back the dollars they sold earlier. Recall that, in accordance with the current rules, banks have the right to sell only the currency that other people brought there, and strictly after April 9, 2022. These rules have already been extended twice for six months, and now they are valid until at least September 9, 2023 (and then you still have to live). At the same time, there is no limit on the purchase of currency — you can buy as much as you like, provided that the amount you need is in the cash register. However, you need to remember something else: you can’t take out more than 10 thousand dollars in cash for each person outside the Russian Federation.
In one of the separate currency exchange offices in the center of Moscow, the MK correspondent was also confirmed that there was no rush demand the day before was not observed.
— It seems to me that people are already tired of fluttering about every occasion. You get used to stress too. Now there are so many people who got burned when buying currency at a wild rate in March 2022, everyone has such acquaintances. People probably draw conclusions,” the bored teller shrugged.
The same opinion is shared by financial consultant Viktor Gritsai, to whom MK turned for clarification. According to the expert, the political and economic turbulence of the last year and a half has led to the fact that people are literally tired of panicking and taking some spontaneous actions to save their savings.
what could happen has already happened. Indeed, there have not been such a number of exchange rate fluctuations and reasons for alarm in our country since the 1990s. Then everything is simple: in February 2022, panic drove people to exchange offices. We remember the principle: «In any incomprehensible situation, buy dollars», inherited from the same 90s. In September 2022, those who urgently left the Russian Federation after the announcement of partial mobilization raked out the currency from the cash desks. Well, now there seems to be no new wave of emigration, and people are already used to nervous shocks. And, most importantly, most of their savings have already been spent. So there is no one to buy the currency.