Starting in 2026, <\/span>the National Bank of Ukraine will begin assessing banks for the level of inclusivity and accessibility of financial services<\/strong>. This was announced by NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy.<\/span> This new supervisory practice means that <\/span>the accessibility of bank branches for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility will become subject to official regulatory inspections<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n For banks, this means the need for a <\/span>comprehensive assessment of branch accessibility, internal procedures, products, and staff training<\/b>.<\/span> That is why the issue of <\/span>bank branch inclusivity<\/strong> is becoming one of the key factors in meeting regulatory requirements.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n The catalyst for increased attention to this issue was an incident involving a veteran who encountered difficulties while receiving banking services.<\/span> The National Bank emphasizes that this is not a problem of a single bank, but rather <\/span>a challenge for the entire financial system<\/b>.<\/span> After reviewing the current regulatory framework, the NBU concluded that banks already have a sufficient legal basis to ensure accessibility; however, in many cases, these requirements are <\/span>implemented only formally or partially<\/b>.<\/span> For this reason, <\/span>the assessment of accessibility of financial services has been incorporated into the inspection supervision framework<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n During inspections, NBU examiners will evaluate banks across several key areas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n 1. Bank Strategy<\/b><\/p>\r\n Whether inclusivity is incorporated into the bank\u2019s strategic development plans.<\/span><\/p>\r\n 2. Internal Processes<\/strong><\/p>\r\n How the bank\u2019s operations are organized from the standpoint of accessibility and barrier-free service.<\/span><\/p>\r\n 3. Banking Products<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Whether services are adapted for persons with disabilities and veterans.<\/span><\/p>\r\n 4. Bank Personnel<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Whether employees receive specialized training on serving customers with disabilities.<\/span> Accordingly, the inspection will concern <\/span>not only the bank building itself, but the institution\u2019s entire operating system<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n Call a consultant<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n+38 (050) 697-78-54<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n In order to comply with inclusivity requirements, banking institutions must ensure:<\/span><\/p>\r\n The following are also important:<\/span><\/p>\r\n All of this forms a <\/span>comprehensive bank inclusivity system<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The first stage of preparation for inspections is an <\/span>accessibility audit of the facility<\/b><\/a>.<\/span> Such an audit includes:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Based on the audit results, a <\/span>list of non-conformities and recommendations for remediation<\/b> is prepared.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In most cases, branches require:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Only after that is it possible to obtain an <\/span>accessibility compliance opinion for the premises<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhy the NBU Is Introducing Inclusivity Inspections for Banks<\/b><\/h2>\r\n
What the NBU Will Inspect During Bank Examinations<\/b><\/h2>\r\n
Would you like to \u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0442\u044c the cost of services
for your particular case?<\/h3>\r\nAccessibility Requirements for Bank Branches<\/b><\/h2>\r\n
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Accessibility Audit of a Bank Branch<\/b><\/h2>\r\n
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What to Do If a Bank Branch Does Not Meet the Requirements<\/b><\/h2>\r\n
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