"Nova Poshta" may open Ukraine's first financial inclusion bank
The Nova Group, which includes Ukraine’s largest private postal operator, Nova Poshta, is in talks to acquire a bank and plans to establish the country’s first financial inclusion bank. According to sources in the financial market and at the National Bank of Ukraine, the process is in its final stages and could be completed by the end of summer 2026.
According to preliminary information, the company intends to acquire BTA Bank—the smallest bank in Ukraine by assets.
Once the deal is finalized, the new owner plans to surrender its full banking license and obtain a special financial inclusion bank license.
What is a financial inclusion bank?
A financial inclusion bank is a new type of financial institution that was introduced into Ukrainian legislation in 2025. Its main goal is to provide access to banking services for residents of remote settlements, villages, and frontline territories where there are no bank branches or where their number is insufficient.
Such banks can open accounts, accept deposits, issue loans, and perform most standard financial transactions. At the same time, a number of restrictions apply to them.
In particular, financial inclusion banks are not permitted to lend to large businesses with annual revenues exceeding €5 million, purchase most types of securities, or act as intermediaries in the stock market. The law also sets limits on lending to individuals and small businesses.
Why Nova Poshta Decided to Enter the Banking Market
The Nova Group is already actively operating in the financial sector through its NovaPay service. The company issues payment cards, manages business accounts, provides loans, and facilitates payments.
However, bank status opens up significantly broader opportunities. First and foremost, this includes the right to accept deposits from the public. Currently, NovaPay offers clients the option to invest funds through its own bonds; however, such investments are not covered by state guarantees for the return of funds.
Once the banking license is obtained, customers will be able to open traditional deposit accounts, which will be protected by the Deposit Insurance Fund for Individuals.
In addition, having its own bank will allow the company to manage financial flows more effectively, invest temporarily available funds in government bonds, and reduce banking service costs.
Which bank is planned for acquisition
According to sources, the bank in question is BTA Bank, which is owned by Kazakh businessman Kenes Rakishev.
As of May 2026, the bank’s assets amounted to approximately 295 million UAH, and its equity capital exceeded 204 million UAH. The financial institution has only one branch in Kyiv and serves fewer than a thousand clients.
Experts estimate the value of the potential deal at approximately 200 million UAH, although the final amount may vary depending on the terms of the sale.
What will change for customers
Experts believe that the launch of its own bank will be an important step in the development of the “Nova Poshta” ecosystem. The company will be able to offer customers a wider range of financial services without the need to turn to third-party banks.
In the long term, this could include opening accounts directly at the postal operator’s branches, setting up deposits, lending to individuals and small businesses, as well as integrating banking services into the company’s digital products.
Market observers also speculate that Nova Poshta’s long-term goal is to create its own super-app that will combine logistics, financial, and retail services into a single ecosystem.
The National Bank confirms the company’s interest in obtaining the status of a financial inclusion bank, but emphasizes that the official set of documents for acquiring the bank has not yet been submitted. The company itself is not disclosing details of the future deal at this time and promises to provide more information once negotiations are complete.
Earlier, the Ukrainian logistics company Nova Poshta announced an ambitious global expansion. By the end of 2026, the company’s branches and services will be available in China and Canada, and by 2028, the network will expand to cover 16 more European countries. This was announced by Nova co-owner Vyacheslav Klimov during the Nova Summit.
