The logo of VTB bank is seen on the bank's headquarters in Tehran, Iran, May 23, 2023. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, VTB in Europe attracted tens of thousands of German savers with its relatively high interest rates and marketed itself as a sponsor of Frankfurt's ice hockey team, the Lions. But after the war began, savers withdrew their money, resulting in a bank run and prompting regulators to manage the outflow. VTB in Russia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Direktbank division that served retail savers has closed with its last customer - who used VTB for a deposit for a garden shed.

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Persons: Majid Asgaripour, Russia's, Frank Hellwig, VTB, Hellwig, Miro Zadro, Tom Sims, John O'Donnell, Alexander Marrow, Barbara Lewis Organizations: West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Lions, savers, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Frankfurt, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, VTB, Ost, West