KIEV, Dec. 27 - Sberbank of Russia has completed the $150 million purchase of Ukraine's NRB Bank, Vyacheslav Yutkin, president of the Kiev-based bank, told Interfax.

"The transaction has been completed. All 100% of the shares in NRB Bank have been transferred to Sberbank ownership," he said.

The Ukrainian Antimonopoly Committee gave permission for Sberbank to buy NRB Bank in July. The National Bank of Ukraine authorized Sberbank to acquire 100% of NRB Bank shares in November, after initially refusing the request in September.