OREANDA-NEWS. August 03, 2012. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Perm Region (Perm OFAS Russia) found that the “Savings Bank of Russia” OJSC, in the person of West-Urals Bank, violated Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (abusing market dominance), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The case was initiated upon a petition from an appraiser. The petitioner claimed that officers of the “Savings Bank of Russia” had refused to accept a property appraisal report from a bank borrower, completed by the appraiser, without indicating the reasons for refusal.

The Commission of Perm OFAS Russia has established that working with appraisal reports the “Savings Bank of Russia” OJSC puts appraisers, not accredited with the Bank, in an unequal position and, therefore, prevents entry to the market. The “Savings Bank of Russia” can influence the market of pledge property appraisal, because it is the Bank that sets the requirements for appraisal reports and appraisers concluding loan agreements with collaterals.

Having investigated the case, OFAS issued a determination to the bank to change regulations for the work with appraisers.

“The “Savings Bank of Russia” had the dominant position on the loan-services market, it can also exercise decisive influence on the markets related to loan-services, including the appraisal market. Our goal is to achieve equal competitive conditions for all appraisers”, commented Deputy Head of Perm OFAS Russia, Marina Kudryavtseva.