On August 10, 2026, the Board of the National Bank of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 90, and the very next day, August 11, the largest package of currency restriction easing since the start of the full-scale invasion took effect. This is not a routine technical decision — it is a signal that the regulator feels increasingly confident in managing the exchange rate and reserves, even though in July 2026 the NBU covered an interbank deficit with interventions of nearly 4.8 billion dollars, the third-largest month by volume on record. Let us break down what actually changed and why it matters not only for business, but for anyone holding a hryvnia account or deposit.
What the NBU Actually Changed
Resolution No. 90 touches several layers of the financial system at once. The change most visible to ordinary citizens is that the limit on individuals' purchases of non-cash foreign currency, banking metals, and foreign securities rose from 50,000 to 200,000 hryvnia. At the same time, limits on cash withdrawals from foreign currency accounts and on transfers abroad from hryvnia accounts were raised. But the real weight of the decision lies not in the numbers for households — it lies in the fact that the NBU has opened up an entire list of operations that had been blocked or severely restricted for businesses for years.
- Dividend repatriation — companies with foreign investors finally gained broader room to move profits abroad, including a resolution for cases where a company's legal form changed while the restrictions were in effect.
- Closing old obligations — businesses can now close import contracts signed before February 24, 2022, return prepayments for goods that actually arrived in Ukraine before the invasion began, and repay old external loans.
- A new "loan" limit for business — in addition to the existing "donation" limit, companies now get an extra limit formed through direct charitable contributions to units of the Armed Forces and the National Guard, which can now be transferred to other legal entities within the same business group.
- Financing of foreign representative offices and payment of international registration fees — operations that previously required manual approval now fall under the general simplified rules.
Separately, the NBU allowed the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine to buy foreign currency to place the funds of the centralized insurance reserve fund — a move meant to reduce currency risk and support the availability of international "Green Card" auto insurance for Ukrainians traveling abroad.
What This Means for Banks Starting September 1
The most technical, but no less important, part of the package concerns the banks themselves. Starting September 1, 2026, banks will be allowed to gradually include part of their formed reserves for active operations in their currency position calculations. It sounds dry, but the practical consequence is real: it becomes easier and cheaper for banks to manage currency risk on their own balance sheets, which, in theory, should translate into better conditions for customers — from exchange rates to the cost of currency instruments. That said, it pays to stay realistic here: banks rarely rush to share operational savings with clients immediately, and the effect is most likely to be stretched out over time and felt unevenly.
Why the NBU Made This Move Now
Currency liberalization is always a balancing act between two goals: stimulating economic activity and not destabilizing the hryvnia's exchange rate. The fact that the regulator dared to take such a large step against the backdrop of record July interventions tells us several things at once. First, the NBU apparently considers the current level of international reserves a sufficient buffer for a short-term rise in currency demand. Second, businesses have complained for years that blocked dividend repatriation and the inability to service old external debt scared off foreign investors even when they were willing to put money into Ukrainian companies. Unblocking these channels is, first and foremost, a signal for investors — not a gift for the mass consumer.
At the same time, the NBU itself stresses in its explanatory notes that it sees no risks to the currency market from this package. That is the official position, but the experience of recent years has taught Ukrainians to treat such assurances with cautious optimism: restrictions have been introduced and lifted repeatedly depending on the situation at the front and the state of reserves, and no one can guarantee the regulator won't roll back part of these easings if pressure on the exchange rate increases this autumn or winter.
What This Means for Your Wallet Today
For most readers, the practical takeaway is simple: the financial-planning horizon has widened a little, but this is not a reason for sudden, emotion-driven moves. If you are setting aside part of your income, now is a good moment to calmly compare what is on the market rather than act on impulse. It is worth checking what the current best deposit offers look like — with the NBU's elevated key rate, hryvnia term deposits are often yielding returns that noticeably outpace inflation expectations, and right now several banks are actively competing for liquidity precisely through fixed-term deposits.
If you need your money accessible rather than locked away for a set term, it makes sense to look at the best savings accounts — they let you withdraw funds at any moment while still earning interest, even if typically lower than a term deposit. For those still deciding on a primary bank for everyday transactions, the expanded limits and simplified currency settlement rules are a good excuse to reassess how competitive your current personal account really is, especially if you frequently transfer money abroad or receive foreign currency income. And anyone planning a major purchase and considering borrowed funds should compare current terms on the loans page before deciding, since the cost of borrowing remains tied to the NBU's key policy rate.
Bottom Line
Resolution No. 90 is not about the hryvnia suddenly strengthening or weakening tomorrow, and it does not mean all currency restrictions have been lifted. It is about a gradual, controlled opening of channels that had been held back by wartime rules for years, and about a market signal that the NBU feels confident enough to move in this direction even against a backdrop of record interventions. For an ordinary person, the main practical conclusion is not to panic or rush to buy currency on emotion, but instead to calmly review where your savings currently sit and whether they are working as efficiently as they could. Compare current bank offers, pay attention to term deposit and savings products, and keep an eye on developments — because, as recent years have shown, NBU currency policy can shift faster than it appears.