While perestroika inaugurated a system of economic reforms that resulted in the collapse of the Soviet Union, let's not forget that it also ultimately allowed hot Russian bank tellers to become pin-up calendar girls ... all in the name of improved international relations! Retail and commercial banking group Expobank has published a customer giveaway calendar featuring twelve of the bank's sexiest employees, scantily clad in provocative poses with tongue-in-cheek bank slogans, as a promotion for VIP clients. "I keep getting compliments about the calendar from my VIP clients, especially from the men — but the women say nice things too," Miss March Anna Pogodina was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail this weekend. "I didn't expect, when I was having my picture taken, that I would see my name and full job title on the calendar. I was really surprised — and rather pleased." It does make you wonder, though, why these women are working in a bank. Imagine if Gisele Bündchen was processing the paperwork for your car loan? - JC

· "Bare-clays Bank...High Street giant bids for Russian bank with a very saucy staff calendar" (dailymail.co.uk)
· Expobank (expobank.ru, though you won't find the rest of the pinup calendar here ... if anyone knows where we can see more, please let us know!)

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