Sole proprietorships and companies face new limits: banks are preparing major changes starting in August
14 May 13:47
Ukrainian banks are preparing new rules for monitoring money transfers for individual entrepreneurs and legal entities. According to the draft of the updated memorandum on transparency in the payment services market, monthly limits may be introduced starting in August 2025 for newly created and “dormant” business accounts. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing the draft memorandum reviewed by the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
What exactly they want to change
Ukrainian banks plan to expand the scope of restrictions on money transfers. While limits previously applied mainly to transfers by individuals, they now intend to extend them to certain business accounts as well.
This primarily concerns:
- newly opened accounts of sole proprietors;
- newly opened accounts of legal entities;
- “dormant” accounts that have not been used for a long time;
- customer accounts that may pose increased risks from a financial monitoring perspective.
These changes are to be enshrined in the updated version of the Memorandum on Transparency in the Payment Services Market.
What limits are planned to be introduced starting in August
According to the draft document, the restrictions are planned to be introduced in two phases.
In the first stage, tentatively starting in August 2026, the following monthly limits are proposed:
| Client category | Monthly limit |
|---|---|
| Group 1 sole proprietors | up to 600,000 UAH |
| Individual entrepreneurs in Groups 2 and 3 | up to 3 million UAH |
| Legal entities | up to 5 million UAH |
In other words, the highest limit in the first phase is set specifically for companies—up to 5 million UAH per month.
What will change in three months
The second phase may begin approximately three months after the first—tentatively in November 2026.
At that time, the limits are planned to be significantly reduced:
| Client category | Limit after the second phase |
|---|---|
| Group 1 sole proprietors | up to 400,000 UAH per month |
| Individual entrepreneurs in Groups 2 and 3 | up to UAH 1 million per month |
| Legal entities | up to 1 million UAH per month |
In practice, this means that after the transition period, some businesses may face stricter requirements for financial transactions.
Who might be affected by the new rules
The new restrictions will not necessarily apply to all sole proprietors and companies equally. First and foremost, they may affect accounts that banks deem risky.
The following may come under scrutiny:
- sole proprietors without a clear business history;
- new companies with a sharp increase in turnover;
- “dormant” accounts that have suddenly become active;
- accounts with a large number of similar transfers;
- clients without a confirmed economic rationale for their transactions;
- businesses that cannot explain the origin of funds.
Why banks want to introduce new limits
The main reason is the fight against shadow schemes, fraud, and so-called “drop accounts.” Banks and the regulator have been tightening controls on transfers for quite some time to make it harder to use accounts for money laundering, illegal money circulation, or circumventing financial monitoring.
The updated memorandum also provides for more active information sharing between banks regarding suspicious clients. This can help identify accounts more quickly that are used not for actual business activities but for the transit of funds.
How the rules for money transfers have changed
Restrictions on money transfers in Ukraine began to tighten even earlier.
On October 1, 2024, the National Bank introduced temporary restrictions on outgoing transfers between individual accounts for a period of six months.
Subsequently, banks established differentiated limits under a memorandum:
- 50,000 UAH — for high-risk clients without verified income;
- 150,000 UAH — for medium- and low-risk clients.
As of June 1, 2025, this threshold was lowered to 100,000 UAH for some customers.
These restrictions apply not only to card-to-card transfers but also to transactions using IBAN details.
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Will it be possible to increase the limit
Under the previous rules, banks allowed for the possibility of raising limits if the customer confirmed the origin of the funds or the economic rationale behind the transactions.
For businesses, this may mean having to provide the bank with:
- contracts;
- certificates of completion;
- tax returns;
- documents regarding the origin of funds;
- explanations regarding counterparties;
- evidence of actual business activity.
It was also previously noted that an increase in limits may be possible for volunteers provided that their relevant activities are confirmed.
What this means for sole proprietors
For sole proprietors, the new limits could have a significant impact, especially if the entrepreneur handles large payment volumes or has many transactions in a short period.
The lowest limit applies to sole proprietors in Group 1. Initially, it may be up to 600,000 UAH per month, and after three months—up to 400,000 UAH.
For sole proprietors in Groups 2 and 3, the limits in the first stage may be up to 3 million UAH, and subsequently—up to 1 million UAH per month.
What this means for companies
For legal entities, a limit of up to 5 million UAH per month is proposed in the first stage. However, after three months, it may be reduced to 1 million UAH.
This could be critical for companies that have active transactions with suppliers, contractors, or clients. At the same time, for legitimate businesses with verified transactions, banks will likely be able to apply an individual approach after reviewing the documents.
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