The next year could be a turning point for state banks - NBU head's forecast.

Head of the National Bank: The banking system of Ukraine is in good condition

"I hope that the bill adopted by parliament on the privatization of state banks will still create additional opportunities and space for dialogue with private investors. According to the memorandum with the IMF, Sens Bank and Ukrgasbank are two priority banks for starting the privatization process with the involvement of a consultant who will allow choosing the best options. Therefore, I sincerely hope that 2025 will bring good news," said the head of the National Bank Andriy Pyshny in an official interview.

According to Pyshny, the National Bank's resilience assessment confirmed that all banks are within the "normative grid".

"We have successfully completed the transition phase to a new capital structure. The banking system shows profitability and demonstrates increasing interest in lending. In effect, the income from lending is becoming an increasingly important element in the banks' revenues," added the head of the National Bank.

According to Pyshny, a 20% annual increase in the loan portfolio, along with operational resilience, indicates that Ukraine's banking system is attractive for investment.

However, the chief banker noted that among the main obstacles to investing are the continuation of the war and unpredictable tax policy.

"If the authorities in 2023 claim that increasing the profit tax on banks to 50% is an exceptional measure, and then repeat their decision, it significantly complicates communication with investors in the banking sector," Pyshny explained.