The “5-7-9%” program: the state owes banks 8 billion
4 March 13:16
The state owes banks approximately UAH 8 billion under the 5-7-9% preferential business lending program.
This was stated by Serhiy Nikolaychuk, deputy head of the National Bank of Ukraine, in an interview with EP, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to him, currently only about a third of loans in the business loan portfolio are supported by state programs — “5-7-9%” and portfolio guarantees.
Nikolaichuk estimated that in 2025, the portfolio of net hryvnia loans to businesses under the “5-7-9%” program will grow by 12%, while outside the program it will grow by almost 50%.
At the same time, he acknowledged the risk of a shortage of budget funds for timely interest compensation. According to Nikolaychuk, banks have periodically faced delays in payments from the Entrepreneurship Development Fund.
The main source of state budget financing
The main source of money for the budget in 2025 was loans from the G7 countries for $37.9 billion, which are partially accounted for as public debt. Ukraine received another $12.1 billion from the European Union.
Over the year, Ukraine’s debt on preferential loans from the EU increased by 1.654 trillion hryvnia ($38.6 billion). However, these loans have a “vacation”: payments under the Ukraine Facility program will begin only in 11-12 years, and the interest on them may be covered by the European Union.
In addition, ERA loans do not fall on the shoulders of taxpayers at all. They are planned to be repaid from the proceeds of Russia’s frozen assets.
