Ukrainian banks to have tighter oversight of clients’ spending

Source: National Bank of Ukraine on Facebook

In a bid to tighten financial oversight, the National Bank of Ukraine has recommended on Monday that banks need to introduce limits for their clients in line with their declared income. This recommendation would require banks to set spending limits based on the income information provided by clients and apply these limits across all of the client’s bank accounts simultaneously.

Under the new guidelines, if a client’s card turnover exceeds their declared income, their account may be frozen until they provide an explanation for the source of the funds. The National Bank of Ukraine argues that the policy is to “increase control”over financial transactions and crack down on “tax evasion” schemes.

“We advise banks to coordinate through their association to ensure that income-based limits become the standard across the board, so clients can’t simply switch banks to avoid restrictions,” said NBU Deputy Governor Dmytro Oliinyk.

To further enhance monitoring, the National Bank will also set up a register of compromised cards that will help blacklist “unreliable sellers” over the next month.

Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.

The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.

In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.

Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.

Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.