The article explores the activities of the Verkhneudinsk Branch of the Russo-Chinese Bank, which was an economic instrument to strengthen Russian influence in the Russian, Chinese and Mongolian border area at the beginning of the 20th century. The authors analyze the work of the Verkhneudinsk branch in the field of providing typical bank offers to the population of Western Transbaikalia (loans, making money transfers, accepting deposits) and services that are not typical for a financial institution (property insurance, and support for entrepreneurial activity of bank customers abroad). The paper reveals the specificity of the Verkhneudinsk branch activity, which manifested itself in mutually beneficial cooperation with the establishment of the bank in Urga in the interests of promoting Russian trade and finance capital in the regions of Inner Asia.