How and where refugees can exchange cash hryvnias for currency

Author

Valery Moiseev

The National Bank of Ukraine announced that from the first days of the war with Russia, together with the central banks of the EU countries, it began to establish mechanisms for exchanging hryvnia cash for currency. "It took some time, but we already have the first results in Poland, a country that has already hosted several million Ukrainian refugees," the NBU said in a statement.

For instance, on March 25, an agreement began to work with the National Bank of Poland on the exchange of hryvnias for Polish zlotys by Ukrainian citizens in Poland.

In addition, back in early March, the NBU allowed Ukrainian banks to buy cash hryvnia from foreign financial institutions for non-cash foreign currency in the amount of up to 1 million euros per day (equivalent). It also contributes to the gradual solution of the problem.

Some banks have already begun to exchange cash hryvnia abroad for another currency using this mechanism.

Due to the constant influx of refugees from Ukraine to the EU countries, many European banks also offer Ukrainians a simplified procedure for opening a bank account and transferring funds to it.

Where can Ukrainians abroad already exchange cash hryvnia for foreign currency at a reasonable rate or deposit money into bank accounts?

Poland

From March 25, Ukrainians can apply to certain branches of PKO Bank Polski to exchange hryvnias for Polish zlotys. Adult citizens of Ukraine will be able to exchange a total of up to 10,000 hryvnia per person. Only banknotes in denominations from 100 to 1,000 hryvnias are accepted for exchange. To exchange money, one needs to have a passport in the form of an ID-card or a valid international passport.

List of branches where one can make an exchange.

In more detail

Hungary

The exchange of cash hryvnias is carried out by OTP Bank. In its branches, Ukrainian citizens can exchange hryvnia for Hungarian forints within the limit of 15,000 UAH per transaction.

In addition, the bank offers to open an account in forints in special branches of OTP Bank in Hungary that provide this service.

This opportunity is available to Ukrainians over the age of 18 (if a citizen of Ukraine is aged 14 to 18, the presence of parents or legal guardians is required) with a valid passport or travel document.

List of branches and detailed information.

Moldova

To support the citizens of Ukraine, OTP Bank will carry out foreign exchange transactions with Ukrainian currency in its branches located in the border regions of Moldova and some branches in Chisinau.

Exchange operations will be carried out on the basis of a Ukrainian internal or international passport.

There is a limit on the exchange — up to 3,000 UAH per client per day.

List of branches and detailed information.

Romania

The hryvnia is exchanged for Romanian lei by Banca Comercială Română. 11 branches of this bank near the border with Ukraine are additionally backed by cash to help Ukrainians crossing the border of this country.

Citizens of Ukraine can exchange hryvnias for up to 1,000 Romanian lei per person with a valid passport.

List of branches where the exchange can be made.

In more detail

Slovakia

Tatra banka (a subsidiary bank of the Raiffeisen group) began to exchange hryvnias for euros. The daily limit per person is 250 euros. When exchanging money, one must provide a valid foreign passport.

The exchange can be made in Bratislava at the head office of the bank, located in the shopping center Tatracentrum on Hodžovo náměstí (from 9:00 to 15:00).

Additional exchange offices should soon appear in Humenne and Michalovce The date of their opening can be found on the bank's website.

In addition, Ukrainians will be able to open an account at Tatra banka branches, to which hryvnia cash will be credited in accordance with the euro exchange rate.

In more detail

Austria

One can exchange cash hryvnia for euros at Raiffeisen bank and Erste Bank Oesterreich branches.

At Raiffeisen bank, one person can exchange up to 500 euros per day with a valid foreign passport.

Branches where yone can exchange cash hryvnia:

Raiffeisen bank also announced a cash hryvnia exchange service in Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania. The bank will notify about it additionally.

At Erste Bank Oesterreich, one person can exchange up to 300 euros. To do this, one needs to have a valid foreign passport as well.

***

The National Bank reminds: it is better for everyone who intends to evacuate abroad not to take the hryvnia in cash with them, but to deposit it into their bank accounts in Ukraine. Having a payment card, one can make non-cash payments and withdraw currency from ATMs abroad.