Ukrainian bank cards abroad: what has been allowed and what limits remain
Using Ukrainian bank cards abroad today remains an accessible and convenient tool, but it requires understanding the current restrictions set by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
Card and currency transactions
All cards of Ukrainian banks work abroad within the general rules of international payment systems, allowing payments in stores and online without prior notice to the bank. At the same time, to ensure financial stability, the regulator applies a number of limits on transactions:
Cash withdrawals: For hryvnia cards abroad, a limit is set on cash withdrawals in the equivalent of UAH 12,500 per week. The reason is the restriction on the volume of conversion of hryvnia into foreign currency, which occurs every time you withdraw cash from a foreign ATM. If you need to frequently withdraw cash abroad, it makes sense to get a Black card from Sense Bank, which allows withdrawal of an equivalent of UAH 50,000 per month without commission (only the commission of the bank whose ATM you use).
For foreign currency cards, the limit is significantly higher: from August 11, 2026, it has been doubled to UAH 200,000 per day in equivalent.
When withdrawing foreign currency abroad, it is worth checking the commission before the transaction is made (the commission is shown on the ATM screen before the withdrawal), and find ATMs with lower commission.
Currency transfers: Transferring funds from a foreign currency card of a Ukrainian bank to a card of a foreign bank is limited to UAH 200,000 per month. At the same time, you can buy currency online onto a foreign currency card and also make a transfer from it. In one month, at one bank, you can buy currency onto a card for an amount of UAH 200,000.
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"Quasi cash" transactions: Such operations (topping up brokerage accounts, buying cryptocurrency, electronic wallets) are subject to strict restrictions: they can be carried out only from foreign currency accounts up to UAH 100,000 per month; such transactions from hryvnia accounts are prohibited.
Accumulating currency for treatment
From April 4, 2026, the NBU significantly simplified the process of preparing to pay for treatment abroad. Previously existing bans were lifted, allowing individuals, their relatives, or charitable foundations to buy foreign currency and accumulate it in a bank account in Ukraine. This makes it possible to gradually collect the necessary amount for transfer to a foreign medical institution without the risk of losing funds due to exchange rate fluctuations. This measure applies not only to the main cost of treatment, but also to related medical expenses.
Which bank's card is better to use abroad
When choosing a card for living, business trips, or vacations abroad, it is important to focus on the bank's reliability, the convenience of its mobile app, and the loyalty of service conditions.
Universal solutions: Leading positions are held by systemically important banks such as PrivatBank, monobank, and A-Bank, thanks to functional mobile apps, the ability to quickly open virtual currency cards, and transparent conversion rates. For cards of these banks, direct conversion is used at the moment of the transaction, not a few days later.
Choice for frequent travelers: Banks with strong international roots, such as Raiffeisen Bank or OTP Bank, often offer more comfortable conditions for currency operations and quality customer support abroad.
Usage tips: When traveling abroad, have two, or even better, three cards from different Ukrainian banks. One may have the best conditions for non-cash purchases (Privatbank, monobank), another can be used to withdraw cash without commission (Sense Bank).
Always open and use a foreign currency card (in EUR or USD) for paying for purchases abroad to avoid double conversion that occurs when paying with a hryvnia card. Topping up a card in EUR or USD is often more profitable through the bank's mobile app by buying currency from a hryvnia card online. This is better than paying abroad with a hryvnia card (due to additional conversions).
Before traveling, check the security settings in the app: make sure that limits for online payments and transactions abroad are set to the required level. Sometimes it is necessary to inform the bank's support service that the card will be used abroad and list the countries where the card will be used. Sometimes it is enough to just check a box in the mobile app.
When withdrawing cash, prefer ATMs of major international banks to minimize commissions charged by third-party acquiring banks.
