Banking and Local currency

Banks and Automatic Tellers

Banks and their branches represent an extended network all over Ukraine and they ensure excellent service for the clients. The leading banks are PrivatBank, Reiffeizenbank Aval, Ukrsibbank, Praveks Bank, Platinum Bank, Oschad (saving) Bank. You will get perfect service and consultation in any bank in Ukraine. 

Ukraine’s banking has a two-level system. The above-mentioned banks belong to a second level. They all are commercial banks of general specialization and they are supervised by the National Bank of Ukraine. The Bank is empowered to issue money, to set interest rates and to regulate exchange rates.

Auto-teller machines of various banks operate in every city; there you can withdraw cash in Ukrainian hryvni, Euros or US dollars. Using automatic tellers you can do other things, for instance, to pay for the Internet, to get mobile and fixed/stationary communication services.

National currency

Ukraine has its national currency – hryvnia – which was introduced in 1996. It was that year that hryvnia returned to the currency which had existed in Kyiv Rus. A current hryvnia looks as follows: outstanding people of Ukraine are depicted on the obverse, and famous buildings are on the reverse.

Hryvnia has bank-notes with par value: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500.

Kopeks/coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and also a 1-hryvnia coin.

Ukrainian hryvnia is internationally recognized as UAH.

Exchange offices

You can exchange currency in any exchange-office. Usually they operate in airports, railway stations, shopping malls, business centers, banks and other financial institutions; you can see them on the streets of Ukrainian cities.

Besides, foreign currency payment in cash or on-card (VISA, MASTER CARD, etc.) is very much encouraged in recreation areas, restaurants and hotels.