T-Bank sneaks new app into App Store disguised as kitchen design tool — due to sanctions

T-Bank, one of Russia's largest private banks, has released a new version of its mobile banking app on the Apple App Store for iPhone. The download link, provided via a QR code, is available on the company's official website.

The app is listed under the name K8CHEN PRO and is disguised as a kitchen design service. In reality, it is the latest version of the T-Bank mobile app, complete with all the usual features, including account management, transfers, and payments.

The disguise is necessary because T-Bank is under Western sanctions, which prevent it from officially distributing its apps through Apple's App Store. To bypass these restrictions, the bank's developers have resorted to this trick — hiding the real purpose of the app behind a fake name and description. However, such apps are typically removed from the App Store quickly after Apple discovers the deception.

Earlier, users reported glitches in the T-Bank app after installing test builds of a new Apple operating system. The app would unexpectedly crash upon launch. The bank acknowledged the issue and stated that it had been fixed in one of the previous versions.

In addition, T-Bank recently launched a service allowing customers to pay for purchases abroad using QR codes, expanding its international payment options.