MOSCOW, November 10. /TASS/. VTB could open new branches in other countries, Head of VTB Andrey Kostin told reporters on Thursday.

"We will see. Generally speaking, we have such ideas," Kostin said.

Back in September, Kostin stated that VTB expected to maintain its presence in the markets of China, India, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and other friendly countries.

Kostin also said that the deal on the entry of Otkritie Bank into the VTB Group will be completed by the end of this year. "It will be completed by the end of this year," he told Rossiya 24 TV channel. He added that both parties to the deal - VTB and the Bank of Russia - believe that it will be closed by the end of the year. "We have made a lot of progress. I hope to see news in the near future," he added. The head of VTB noted that the negotiations are almost in the final stage.