The National Bank of Ukraine reported that the number of bank branches in Ukraine decreased by 61 in the first half of 2026. City24 payment service expert Dmytro Grysha said the drop reflects deeper changes in banking models rather than simple network optimization.
Grysha said Ukraine is following a broader European trend where financial institutions have significantly scaled back physical office networks in recent years. He said clients increasingly expect fast and remote financial services instead of visiting branches for everyday transactions.
Shift to remote banking and consulting
According to Grysha, physical branch networks are gradually shifting away from routine daily operations. He said physical locations are instead transforming into spaces dedicated to personal consultations, complex financial products, and individual client support.
