YOU HAVE TO be kitten us.

A Russian bank is now lending cats along with money – people who take out mortgages will also be given a furry feline to play with for a couple of hours.

An example of the sort of elegant feline you might receive. Flickr / Umberto Flickr / Umberto / Umberto

Jezebel reports that because more and more Russians are seeking mortgages, the Moscow-based Sberbank came up with the unique promotion as a means of attracting customers.

The lucky mortgage-seekers will even get to choose the cat they want to come and visit.

The promotion also ties in to an old Russian superstition – it’s good luck for a cat to be the first creature to walk into a new home. See how excited this couple get when their fluffy visitor steps over the threshold:

When can we expect Irish banks and businesses to pick up on this? We want cats with our student loans, and we want them NOW.

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