What happened
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has approved the procedure for assessing the resilience of banks in 2026: 26 largest banks, accounting for more than 90% of the banking system's assets, will be subject to the review. The results are to be published by 31 December 2026.
Which banks will be checked
The list includes: PrivatBank, Oschadbank, Ukreximbank, Ukrgasbank, Sense Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, Ukrsibbank, OTP Bank, Credit Agricole Bank, ProCredit Bank, KredoBank, Pravex Bank, PUMB, Pivdennyi, Tascombank, Universal Bank, Credit Dnipro Bank, VST Bank, A‑Bank, MTB Bank, Bank Lviv, Idea Bank, Acordbank, Bank Alliance, Globus and Radabank.
How the assessment will be carried out
The procedure consists of three stages: an asset quality review (AQR) by independent auditors as of 1 January 2026; extrapolation of the results to all banks (if necessary); and stress‑testing under baseline and adverse macroeconomic scenarios to determine capital needs.
Selection criteria
The NBU will select banks based on three main indicators: size of risk‑weighted assets, volume of household deposits, and volume of net loans to households. The sample will also include banks that required recapitalization following the 2025 resilience assessment.
"The 2026 resilience assessment will allow the NBU and international partners to get a clear picture of risks and determine the amounts of capital needed for banks to operate stably under wartime conditions."
— Press service of the National Bank of Ukraine
What changed because of martial law
Due to martial law, the NBU has simplified some requirements: loans will be assessed under wartime rules, checks on the write‑off of problem assets will not be carried out, and reports may be submitted without an auditor's opinion. This balances the need for speed with the requirement for transparency for partners.
Context and consequences
Resuming annual stress‑testing is part of Ukraine's commitments to the IMF and the EU under the Ukraine Facility. For the market this means two things: first, greater transparency — a key to investor confidence; second, a tool for early identification of banks that need recapitalization or restructuring.
The NBU has already published the 2025 results (29 December): under the baseline scenario an increased level of required capital adequacy was identified for six banks (Credit Dnipro, Tascombank, VST Bank, A‑Bank, Bank Lviv and Pravex Bank), and under the adverse scenario for an additional three (Ukreximbank, Sense Bank, MTB Bank). These findings will be the basis for measures in 2026.
What it means for people and the economy
For depositors and customers — this is an additional tool of confidence: regular, independent assessments reduce uncertainty about banks' resilience. For the state and partners — it is a signal that the financial system is undergoing a professional review necessary for further support and investment. Overall, this is an element of the country's financial defence: not a loud declaration, but systematic work.
Brief forecast
The 2026 results will show how well banks have adapted to prolonged war and whether additional recapitalization steps are needed. Now the ball is in the partners' court: pledges of support must be turned into concrete resources that will strengthen the resilience of Ukraine's banking system.
