PRESS DIGEST - Russia - Nov 17

MOSCOW, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The following are some of the leading stories in Russia's newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

KOMMERSANT

www.kommersant.ru

- Russian banks are changing their system for evaluating potential borrowers, considering the scope of their employment. Now it's much more difficult to get a loan for those who work in construction, metallurgy and the financial sector.

- The daily says that former Yukos lawyer, Svetlana Bakhmina, who is in prison for fraud, has left the hospital where she was put to give birth. It is unclear where she is, the newspaper said.

- The Russian central bank has stimulated the Russian banking sector into greater consolidation. From Jan 1, 2009 any bank will be able to improve its financial reports due to new accounting standards.

VEDOMOSTI

www.vedomosti.ru

- One of Russia's biggest oil firms, Surgutneftegaz (SNGS.RTS) continues to save. By October 1, the company had saved 383 billion roubles.

- Gazprom (GAZP.MM) does not care about financial criticism the daily says. In the third quarter the number of employees in its headquarters grew by 10,5 percent, and managers' wages - by 5 percent.

- A central issue of the United Russia congress will be Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's report about concept-2020, and the main intrigue -- whether he will become a member of the party.

IZVESTIA

www.izvestia.ru