The banking sector of Ukraine is demonstrating a confident recovery despite the ongoing war and high risks. In the first eight months of 2025, the net assets of banks increased by 4%, while the volume of hryvnia loans rose by 33.7% compared to the same period last year. This was reported by the Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Oleksiy Shaban, during the Kyiv International Economic Forum.
This is reported by Business • Media
Business Loans as a Driving Force of the Banking System
According to Oleksiy Shaban, the main factor behind this growth has been active lending to businesses. The share of short-term financial instruments, including deposit certificates, is gradually decreasing, indicating a recovery in business activity in the country. According to information from the central bank, in September 2025, the volume of net hryvnia loans for businesses increased by 30.8% year-on-year, while for individuals it rose by 32.9%.
Record Growth of the Loan Portfolio at PrivatBank
A vivid example of the recovery in lending activity is the results from PrivatBank. According to bank representative Larysa Chernyshova, the loan portfolio for business clients reached ₴50 billion, nearly three times higher than the figures before the full-scale invasion. She emphasized that the bank issues ₴160 million in new loans daily and remains a key source of financing for small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine. In 2022, PrivatBank issued ₴24 billion in loans, becoming one of the first financial institutions to resume lending after the war began.
“Every day we issue ₴160 million in new loans and remain a key source of financing for small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine,” she added.
The Deputy Governor of the NBU also reported that the regulator continues to implement European regulatory standards in the banking sector. According to him, the NBU’s requirements are already aligned with European standards by 77%. It is expected that after the European Commission’s conclusion on full compliance, new opportunities will arise for attracting European capital into Ukraine’s banking loans.
At the same time, Oleksiy Shaban acknowledged that the size of the Ukrainian banking system remains modest compared to the scale of post-war reconstruction in the country. Therefore, it is planned to also involve foreign banking groups in financing the recovery.