Russia's Central Bank revoked the license of Inkombank after it effectively went into liquidation as a result of the financial crisis.

But the Central Bank did not rule out the possibility of reorganising Inkombank if it could find Russian and foreign lenders prepard to bail the bank out.

The decision to revoke the license came two days after Inkombank's head, Vladimir Vinogradov, resigned.

Vinogradov was a prominent member of the so-called Russian oligarchs who have amassed vast wealth and have privileged access to the Kremlin.

The Central Bank said: "The Bank of Russia was forced to take this measure as the significant fall of the rouble rate and the massive demand for money to be returned to clients led to a sharp deterioration in the financial situation of Inkombank."

Assets seized

In August, the major US investment bank Lehman Brothers attempted to seize Inkombank's offshore assets in a court action in London.

Lehman hoped to recover about $90m from the move. Lehman said it would take a $60m charge against earnings due to volatility in Russian markets.

The company also sought to recover money owed to its clients.

"Excessive risks"

The Central Bank said that Inkombank had taken excessive risks ahead of the August 17 devaluation and that its obligations had shrunk its asset base.

Devaluation of the rouble has left Russians with little to count on

As part of a plan to rescue Russia's ailing economy, the Central Bank has promised a plan to separate those banks who could still be viable once restructured from those which are completely doomed.

Inkombank was heavily exposed by the government's decision to default on state debt. Some 11% of its assets were made up of the treasury bills still frozen by the government.

The Central Bank said a series of Inkombank properties and assets would be impounded, and that it would now be placed under the Central Bank's administration.

A liquidation committee will look at how to put up its assets for tender.