In March, the National Bank of Ukraine focused on further aligning banking regulations with European Union standards. Although 13 regulatory documents were adopted during the month, the key decisions primarily concerned capital buffers, banking supervision, and updates to credit risk assessment approaches.
This is discussed in an article by the Center for Economic Research and Forecasting, “Financial Pulse.”
One of the most significant innovations was NBU Board Resolution No. 23 of March 4, 2026, which stipulates that starting January 1, 2027, banks and banking groups must comply with requirements regarding the establishment of a capital conservation buffer and a systemic importance buffer. The capital conservation buffer will be 2.5% for all banks, while the systemic importance buffer will range from 1% to 2% depending on the bank’s category.
At the same time, with the introduction of these buffers, the NBU is eliminating the need for higher capital adequacy ratios. Consequently, starting in 2027, the minimum capital adequacy ratios will align with European rules: 8% for the regulatory capital adequacy ratio, 6% for Tier 1 capital, and 4.5% for Common Equity Tier 1 capital.
“For the market, this means gradual integration into a common regulatory space with the EU,” noted Dilyara Mustafayeva, head of the analytical department at “Financial Pulse.”
Another important decision was Resolution No. 27, through which the NBU approved amendments to the Regulations on Off-Site Banking Supervision. The new rules establish the procedure for imposing restrictions on a bank’s operations in the event of a deterioration in its financial condition, and also provide for the possibility of immediate action without prior consultation with the bank if there is a direct threat to the interests of depositors and creditors.
Separately, the regulator has strengthened oversight of the introduction of new banking products. In particular, banks will be required to notify the NBU of the launch of new products or significant changes to existing ones if they could substantially affect the institution’s operations.
“In practice, this means strengthening preventive supervision. The regulator seeks to obtain more tools for early response to potential risks—both in the financial condition of banks and in the new products they bring to market. This aligns with European logic: not only to identify a problem but also to try to prevent it at an early stage,” explained Dilyara Mustafayeva.
Also in March, the NBU, through Resolution No. 28 of March 21, 2026, amended a number of regulations governing the calculation of regulatory capital, banking activities, and credit risk-weighted exposures. A significant portion of these changes concerns the consideration of guarantors’ credit ratings when determining the amount of collateral in the form of a guarantee or standby letter of credit, which is taken into account when calculating the N7 credit risk ratio.
According to the expert, this set of changes is particularly important for harmonizing Ukrainian regulations with the requirements of the European CRR Regulation.
“The more Ukrainian banking legislation aligns with the EU’s approach to risk assessment, the easier it will be for the banking system to adapt to future integration processes. This is important not only in terms of formal compliance with requirements but also for improving the quality of risk management within the banks themselves,” emphasized Dilyara Mustafayeva.
In addition to the European integration package, the National Bank adopted a number of other important decisions in March. Resolution No. 24 established additional requirements for banks during the period of martial law that must be met to obtain permission to acquire shares, stakes, or interests in a legal entity.
Through Resolution No. 25, the regulator updated the rules for registering debt collection companies: it streamlined registration procedures, clarified requirements regarding the business reputation of managers and owners, and optimized the document submission process.
Changes were also made to the Procedure for Subscribers’ Enrollment in the BankID System. These changes include stricter requirements for transparency in the processing of personal data, updates to technical and methodological standards for subscriber interaction, and clarifications regarding the procedure for exiting the system.
In a separate Resolution No. 29, the NBU extended the transition period for financial companies and credit unions to report on active transactions until the end of 2026. In addition, reporting deadlines were extended and a new procedure was introduced for institutions that do not conduct reportable transactions.
“March was not a record month in terms of the number of regulatory changes, but the NBU continues to shape a regulatory environment in which Ukrainian banks will increasingly operate under rules aligned with EU standards. And this is one of the important signals for the entire financial market,” concluded Dilyara Mustafayeva.
Background:
The non-governmental organization “Center for Economic Research and Forecasting ‘Financial Pulse’” was established on March 2, 2015, with the aim of uniting the efforts of participants and experts in Ukraine’s financial market to promote its development and improvement.
The Center’s activities will contribute to the following objectives:
Improving the quality of the regulatory framework governing the financial market and eliminating regulatory issues that hinder its full development
Increasing the transparency of financial institutions’ operations
Developing new market instruments and operational mechanisms, including through the adoption of best international practices
Improving the financial literacy of the population
Promoting the implementation of economic reforms, including through financial decentralization
Promoting the development of entrepreneurship, etc.
Center website: http://finpuls.com/
Social media: https://www.facebook.com/finpulse.center/
