OREANDA-NEWS  Wildberries and VTB's partnership will usher in a "new era of financial services" and help strengthen Russia's digital platform sovereignty, Wildberries founder Tatiana Kim told reporters.

Earlier on Tuesday, the marketplace's press service told RIA Novosti that Wildberries and VTB plan to conclude a strategic partnership agreement: the bank will acquire a 5% stake in WB Bank with the possibility of increasing it. In turn, WB Bank gets access to VTB's infrastructure - retail branches, ATM network, as well as investment and other products, mortgage lending for its customers. VTB corporate products will become available to small and medium-sized businesses working with WB Bank.

p.m. "I am confident that our partnership marks the beginning of a new era of financial services and will strengthen our country's digital platform sovereignty," Kim said.