Banks under the microscope: NBU launches new resilience test in 2026
1 January 16:07
The National Bank of Ukraine has approved the terms of reference for assessing the sustainability of banks and the entire banking system in 2026.
The relevant decision is enshrined in the NBU Board Resolution No. 148 of December 19, 2025, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The regulator reports that the approach to the assessment will remain the same as last year, with a focus on asset quality, capital adequacy, and the ability of banks to withstand economic shocks.
How the assessment will be conducted
The procedure will consist of three stages:
- Asset Quality Review (AQR) – to be conducted by independent auditors as of January 1, 2026.
- Extrapolation of AQR results – if necessary, for all banks in the system.
- Stress testing – under baseline and unfavorable macroeconomic scenarios with the determination of the required capital level.
In this way, the NBU will check how well banks are able to withstand a deterioration in economic conditions.
Who will be subject to stress tests
In 2026, the 26 largest banks, which account for more than 90% of the assets of the Ukrainian banking system, will be subject to stress testing.
The list includes, in particular:
- “PrivatBank
- “Oschadbank
- “Ukreximbank
- “Ukrgasbank
- “Sense Bank
- “Raiffeisen Bank
- “Ukrsibbank
- “OTP Bank
- “Credit Agricole Bank
The banks that needed additional capitalization based on the results of the 2025 sustainability assessment will also be inspected.
The regulator actually continues the policy of preventive control over the banking sector
The NBU is effectively continuing its policy of preventive control over the banking sector in the face of war and prolonged economic uncertainty.
The resilience assessment allows the NBU to
- identify weaknesses in banks’ balance sheets,
- require additional capitalization in advance,
- reduce risks to depositors and financial stability.
The stability assessment is part of the systemic supervision that the NBU is gradually expanding.
Earlier, the regulator reported that in 2026 it also plans to conduct inspections of information security, cybersecurity, and electronic trust services at six banks.
When will the results be available
The results of the assessment of the resilience of banks and the banking system of Ukraine are to be published by December 31, 2026.
They will show how ready the country’s financial system is for new challenges, both military and post-war.
