The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has fundamentally altered the strategic landscape for the country’s financial sector. During the Ukrainian Banking Summit 2026, Irina Starominska, CEO of Universal Bank (monobank), discussed how banks are learning to navigate an environment characterized by constant change and emerging risks.
Starominska emphasized that the primary objective in this challenging reality is to continuously assess the resilience of the banking system. “We must plan for capital levels, the quality of the loan portfolio, and other key indicators. We conduct stress tests regularly and strive to remain as flexible as possible,” she stated.
The fifth year of full-scale war has compelled the banking sector to operate under dual realities: planning for the future while being prepared for crisis scenarios at any moment. “We can now talk about a new model of bank management during wartime. Previously, strategies were reviewed annually; today, it is a process of constant adjustment,” Starominska explained.
Despite the ever-changing external conditions, she highlighted that the core strategy of the bank has remained unchanged since its inception in 2017. “We aim to be the number one branchless bank, yet with human support. Just as people refer to photocopiers as Xeroxes, our goal is to achieve the same recognition for banking,” she concluded.
Looking ahead, Starominska believes that the future of the financial sector is linked to a model where clients can access all necessary services remotely, eliminating the need for physical branch visits or cumbersome bureaucratic processes. The Ukrainian banking sector is gradually shifting from a model of stable planning to adaptive management, where responsiveness is crucial for business resilience.
The ability to swiftly revise decisions and operate amid ongoing uncertainty is becoming a new competitive advantage in the banking market.
The Ukrainian banking sector is evolving in response to the ongoing war, with a focus on adaptive management and resilience. Insights from the Ukrainian Banking Summit 2026 highlight the need for continuous assessment and flexibility in strategy.