Information Day for media representatives on the issues related to the payment systems and settlements regulation took place at the National Bank of Ukraine on 30 September 2011.

Spokesmen:

Viktor Mykhailovych Kravets, Director of the General Department of Payment Systems and Settlements Regulation;

Natalia Hryhorivna Lapko, Director of the Payment Systems Department;

Tetiana Volodymyrivna Shatalovych, Deputy Director of the Department– Head of the Office for Cashless Settlements Policy;

Tetiana Oleksandrivna Chernoivanova, Head of the Office for Regulation of Bank and Nonbank Payment systems;

Volodymyr Ivanovych Kharchenko, Head of the Office for Retail Payments Policy;

Lilia Mykolaivna Omel’chuk, Deputy Head of the Office for Supervision (Oversight) over Payment Systems and Settlements Systems.

Viktor Kravets has informed the media representatives about the principles of operation, organizational chart and powers of the General Department of Payment Systems and Settlements Regulation and stressed that “The National Bank of Ukraine determines the system, procedure and forms of payments including interbank ones, and it also determines the areas of development of modern electronic banking technologies, establishes, coordinates and exercises control over the creation of electronic means of payment, payment systems, banking automation and banking information protection facilities. The General Department of Payment Systems and Settlements Regulation exercises the functions prescribed by Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine “On the National Bank of Ukraine”.

Natalia Lapko has focused attention on the activities of the Payment Systems Department, pointing out that it comprises three offices, namely the Office for Cashless Settlements Policy,  the Office for Regulation of Bank and Nonbank Payment Systems and the Office for Retail Payments Policy, which ensure the establishment and elaboration of the legal framework for the operation of payment systems in Ukraine. “The Department has elaborated 32 legislative acts so far,” she said.

In addition to this, she covered the issued related to the operation of the system of electronic payments being the state-owned system of interbank settlements. The status of the system of electronic payments is prescribed by the Law of Ukraine “On Payment Systems and Funds Transfer in Ukraine”, whereas the procedure for its operation is determined by the Instruction on the interbank funds transfer, approved by the Board of the National Bank of Ukraine #320 of 16 August 2006 (amended). The system of electronic payments provides settling accounts within Ukraine between banks per procuration of bank customers as well as under commitments of banks and other system participants. “98% of payments within Ukraine made through the system of electronic payments,” Natalia Lapko stressed.

With a view to safeguarding the uninterrupted and stable operation of payment systems, the central banks have commenced exercising supervision (oversight) over payment systems. Lilia Omel’chuk focused her attention on this new function of the National Bank of Ukraine. According to her, supervision (oversight) over payment systems means the central bank’s activity aimed at monitoring and assessment of payment systems and initiating changes in their activity if required in order to ensure the uninterrupted, reliable and efficient operation of the corresponding systems.   

The representatives of the National Bank of Ukraine have delivered their keynote statements with regard to the fundamental principles of work in their departments and shared problems and tasks facing the National Bank of Ukraine today.

By arranging Information Day for media representatives on the issues related to the payment systems and settlements regulation, the National Bank of Ukraine has made a further step towards information openness aimed at raising awareness of media representatives about the topical issues regarding the National Bank of Ukraine’s activity