Card payments break records: what Ukrainians bought in 2025
11 February 14:59
In 2025, Ukrainians set a new financial record: through PrivatBank’s acquiring ecosystem, they made cashless purchases worth over UAH 1.3 trillion. This is 19% more than a year earlier, PrivatBank said, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
This refers to transactions through merchant acquiring, a system that allows card payments to be accepted in stores and online. In fact, almost every second card payment in Ukraine in 2025 went through PrivatBank’s ecosystem.
Cashless economy during the war
According to Serhiy Makarenko, head of PrivatBank’s merchant acquiring division, cashless payments have long ceased to be just a convenience.
“These figures are not just about comfort. During the war, our acquiring ecosystem has become an invisible infrastructure of stability for Ukraine, working every day for millions of Ukrainians — from the supermarket near their home to the online store,” he said.
The growth in card and gadget payments indicates the stability of the financial system even in wartime.
What Ukrainians spent the most on
Food — UAH 551.6 billion.
The largest item of expenditure is food. In 2025, Ukrainians spent UAH 551.6 billion on food, which accounts for 42.4% of all non-cash payments.
Medicines and health products — 8.4%.
The second largest category was spending on medicines and health products — 8.4% of the total volume of non-cash payments.
Clothing and footwear accounted for 7.6%.
Ukrainians spent 7.6% of their total card spending on clothing and footwear.
Cosmetics and beauty salons — 7.2%
Demand for beauty services and care products remained stable, accounting for 7.2% of spending.
Catering establishments — 6.6%
Payments in cafes, restaurants, and fast food establishments accounted for 6.6% of all non-cash spending.
Household goods — 5.8%
Ukrainians spent another 5.8% on repairs, household appliances, and home furnishings.
What does the record of UAH 1.3 trillion mean?
The financial indicators for 2025 show:
- active digitization of payments;
- growing confidence in the banking system;
- stable infrastructure operation even during the war;
- the gradual replacement of cash in everyday transactions.
The cashless economy continues to strengthen its position, with Ukrainians increasingly choosing to pay by card or smartphone.
