On 13 October 2008 the President signed Federal Law No. 171-FZ amending the Federal Law on the Central Bank. The Law entered into force on 14 October 2008.

This Law entitles the Russian Central Bank to grant unsecured loans to Russian credit organisations for up to six months on the terms and conditions set by the Central Bank Board of Directors. (This law was later amended (see The federal government makes further changes to the Law on the Central Bank as financial crisis continues).) The criteria to be met by the borrowers (including their rating level) are set by the Central Bank's Board of Directors.