Ukraine (UA)

Monthly fee: Free basic Mastercard debit (Zero card); Premium Platinum card UAH 250/month

Requirements: Valid passport, Ukrainian INN (ідентифікаційний номер), Ukrainian phone number, address registration (реєстрація). In-person branch visit required for initial account; some account types available via Privat24 app if INN already registered. PrivatBank was nationalised by the Ukrainian government in 2016 and is state-owned.

• + Largest bank in Ukraine — widest ATM network (7,000+ ATMs) and branch coverage nationwide
• + Privat24 app is one of the best banking apps in Eastern Europe — English-language option available
• + Free UAH instant transfers between PrivatBank accounts 24/7
• + Pay by Phone: instant transfers by phone number to any Ukrainian bank
• + Government service payments available in-app: utilities, taxes, fines, municipal services
• + Foreign card (Visa/Mastercard) cashback services available
• + International Mastercard debit card accepted outside Ukraine

• - State-owned — some bureaucracy at branches; use Privat24 app to avoid queues
• - Strict NBU martial-law controls on foreign currency purchase and international transfers apply to all PrivatBank accounts
• - Card limits for international use may be restricted under NBU martial-law rules

Monthly fee: Free for standard Mastercard Black card; White card UAH 0/month with conditions

Requirements: Ukrainian INN, valid passport or Ukrainian ID card, Ukrainian phone number. Fully online onboarding via the monobank app — no branch visit required if documents upload successfully. Note: some foreign-passport holders may need to visit a Universal Bank branch (monobank's banking licence partner) for ID verification.

• + Excellent app — English-language interface fully available; highly intuitive
• + Instant UAH transfers to any Ukrainian bank by phone number (Pay by Phone system)
• + Cashback rewards (кешбек) on card categories — up to 20% in rotating categories
• + Monobank Jar (Банка): savings goal feature widely used for rent, emergency fund management
• + Mastercard debit card with international acceptance
• + Good FX rates for international card spending compared to bank transfer rates
• + No monthly fee for basic card with reasonable usage

• - Not a standalone bank — licensed through Universal Bank; INN requirement is non-negotiable
• - No physical branches — all issues resolved via in-app chat or phone; response times vary under wartime conditions
• - International transfers: same NBU martial-law restrictions apply as all Ukrainian banks

Monthly fee: UAH 0–150/month for standard current account; Business packages from UAH 300/month

Requirements: Valid passport, Ukrainian INN, proof of Ukrainian address, employment contract or source-of-funds documentation. In-person branch visit required — main Kyiv branches have English-speaking staff. Raiffeisen Bank Aval is the Ukrainian subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International (Austria).

• + Austrian parent — historically the most internationally-oriented bank for foreign nationals in Ukraine
• + English-language service at main Kyiv (Khreshchatyk, Podil) and Lviv branches
• + Business banking well-suited for foreign-owned companies registered in Ukraine
• + Foreign currency (USD, EUR) accounts available alongside UAH
• + SWIFT international transfers available (subject to NBU martial-law rules)
• + Raiffeisen Online banking app — functional and reliable
• + Good for expats working in international NGOs or diplomacy

• - Fees higher than monobank or PrivatBank for basic services
• - International transfer restrictions: same NBU martial-law controls apply
• - Raiffeisen Bank International (parent) has faced pressure over its Russia operations — monitor for any impact on Ukraine subsidiary

Monthly fee: Free for basic Visa debit card and current account

Requirements: Valid passport, Ukrainian INN, Ukrainian address registration. In-person branch visit required. Oschadbank is a state-owned savings bank — the second-largest bank in Ukraine by branch network, with strong coverage in small towns and rural areas.

• + State-guaranteed deposits — strongest deposit protection of any Ukrainian bank (full state guarantee, not just deposit fund limit)
• + Widest rural and small-town branch coverage — essential for expats stationed outside Kyiv or Lviv
• + Used by Ukrainian state institutions for pension payments, social transfers, and civil servant salaries
• + Ощад 24/7 app available for basic digital banking

• - No English-language interface — branches primarily Ukrainian-language
• - Digital banking significantly less advanced than PrivatBank or monobank
• - Long queues at smaller branches — limited appointment booking options
• - Not recommended as primary account for expats based in Kyiv or Lviv with access to better digital alternatives

Monthly fee: Free for basic Sense card; premium packages from UAH 200/month

Requirements: Valid passport, Ukrainian INN, Ukrainian phone number, proof of address. In-person branch visit required at main offices. Sense Bank was rebranded from Alfa-Bank Ukraine in 2022 following sanctions on Alfa-Bank Russia — it is a fully separate entity now under Ukrainian management and ownership.

• + Strong digital banking platform — Sense app well-rated for UX
• + English-language support available at Kyiv headquarters and main city branches
• + USD and EUR accounts available alongside UAH
• + Good for expats whose employers use Sense Bank for international payroll
• + SWIFT transfers available for incoming foreign income (subject to NBU rules)
• + Business banking accounts for foreign-owned Ukrainian companies
• + Separate from sanctioned Russian Alfa-Bank — no compliance concerns for Western nationals

• - Smaller branch network than PrivatBank or Oschadbank
• - Same NBU martial-law transfer restrictions apply as all Ukrainian banks
• - Rebranding from Alfa-Bank Ukraine may cause confusion — confirm the bank's current legal name before account opening