Russia's Sberbank saw $5.5 bln inflow in Dec

MOSCOW Jan 12 (Reuters) - Sberbank SBER03.MM, home to half of Russian bank accounts, saw deposit inflows of 168 billion roubles ($5.5 billion) in December, recouping October's $3.4 billion outflow and weak November flows, Sberbank said on Tuesday.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tried to soothe concerns about deposit safety in late December, saying that Russia's banking system had stabilised and there was no danger to private savings.

Sberbank's spokeswoman did not provided any details of the inflow's breakdown between the Russian rouble and other currencies.

Russia's biggest lender has raised interest rates in order to lure back depositors frightened by instability of the financial sector and rouble weakening. Many commercial banks have followed suit.

The Russian government has raised the protection on retail deposits. The first 700,000 roubles -- the equivalent of around 40 average monthly salaries -- is now guaranteed. (Reporting by Dmitry Sergeyev; Editing by Rupert Winchester)