On 10 May 2017, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Ms Valeria Gontareva, conducted a meeting with top managers of the largest banks. NBU representatives at the meeting also included NBU First Deputy Governor Yakiv Smolii, Deputy Governors Roman Borysenko and Kateryna Rozhkova.
This was Valeria Gontareva’s last meeting with the banking community in her capacity as the NBU Governor since on 11 May 2017 she is resigning from her post at the NBU, going on a compulsory leave until the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, accepts her resignation.
Mr Gontareva said that “one man show” will no longer be at the NBU. The central bank’s team will carry on with its work in line with the Comprehensive Program of Ukraine Financial Sector Development Until 2020 to ensure the continuity of the reform process. From 11 May 2017, Yakiv Smolii will serve as Acting Governor of the NBU until the new Governor appointment.
The NBU Governor also highlighted the top priority projects on the agenda of her successor.
“Ukraine needs an updated Strategy for development of state-owned banks healthy competition among banks and appropriate corporate governance. Therefore, it is essential that an updated development strategy for state-owned banks be approved. This is a top priority task for 2017. NBU will closely monitor the implementation of this strategy. This will give a new impetus to the development of the banking sector in the upcoming years. The new NBU governor will be charged with other comprehensive tasks, including a revival of lending, addressing nonperforming assets and building a cashless economy,” stressed Ms Gontareva.
Taking stock of the central bank’s achievements during her tenure as a governor, Ms Gontareva highlighted fundamental positive changes that have taken place in the system.
“The NBU’s record of achievements includes the adoption of an inflation-targeting regime, banking sector clean-up, an internal organizational transformation of the NBU, and achieving the institutional independence of the central bank. Furthermore, the NBU managed to achieve macrofinancial stability that has been maintained over more than two years. This is our joint achievement,” said the NBU Governor.
Addressing the bankers, the NBU Governor urged them to maintain a partnership dialogue with the NBU and defend its institutional independence.
On behalf of the banking community Mr Roman Shpek, Chairman of the Board of the Independent Association of Ukrainian Banks, thanked Ms Gontareva for her strong will and character enabling her to implement real reforms.