The National Bank of Ukraine has approved a package of regulatory changes that pave the way for the launch of financial inclusion banks (FIBs)—a new type of financial institution designed to provide access to banking services in regions with heightened security risks.
The main goal of FIBs is to provide high-quality and secure financial services to residents of frontline, de-occupied, and remote areas where there are no bank branches or where remote services are limited due to connectivity issues.
The new rules establish the procedure for obtaining a limited banking license for newly established institutions, as well as the mechanism for renewing licenses for existing banks. Additionally, the regulations address requirements for the strategic planning of FII operations, the specifics of providing services outside of branch locations, the procedure for engaging commercial agents, and the integration of the operational specifics of such institutions into risk management and internal control systems.
Corresponding amendments have been made to a number of NBU regulatory documents, specifically regarding the licensing of banks, the regulation of their activities, the organization of internal control, risk management, the conduct of inspections, and the engagement of commercial agents to provide financial payment services.
Andriy Pyshnyy, Governor of the NBU, emphasized that the launch of financial inclusion banks is intended to ensure access to financial services for the general public, socially vulnerable groups, and small businesses in regions close to the conflict zone and in liberated territories. According to him, this is a key component of the financial sector transformation that began in 2024.
The changes were adopted to implement the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Development of Financial Inclusion in Ukraine.” NBU Board Resolutions No. 61, No. 64, and No. 65 of June 12, 2026, will take effect simultaneously with the law’s entry into force on June 26, 2026.
Once the new rules take effect, applicants will be able to submit documents to the NBU to obtain the relevant license. The duration of the application review will depend on the completeness and quality of the submitted materials, and the start of the financial institution’s operations will depend on the institution’s level of readiness after receiving the license and being entered into the State Register of Banks.
According to World Bank estimates, the level of financial inclusion in Ukraine in 2021 stood at 84%, which is 11 percentage points below the target of 95%. Following the start of the full-scale invasion, the problem of access to financial services worsened due to the reduction in the network of bank branches and ATMs.
As part of its efforts to promote financial inclusion, the NBU also introduced accessibility requirements for financial institutions, signed the Charter on Financial Inclusion and Reintegration of Veterans, presented a scoring model for self-assessment in working with veterans, and began drafting a Strategy for the Development of Financial Inclusion in Ukraine.
