The National Bank of Ukraine has decided that the director general of Ukrposhta, Ihor Smilianskyi, does not meet the professional suitability requirements established for the head of a financial payment services provider.
This is stated in the NBU's message, Ukrainian News Agency reports.
The decision was made by the Committee on Supervision and Regulation of Banking Activities, Payment Infrastructure Oversight.
The assessment of the professional suitability of heads of financial institutions and payment services providers is an integral part of the supervisory powers of the National Bank of Ukraine.
Its goal is to ensure that persons who make key management decisions comply with the requirements established by law, which is a necessary condition for the stable functioning of the financial sector.
The procedure is carried out if there are grounds specified by law, in particular in the event of violations in the activities of the institution.
JSC Ukrposhta is a postal operator licensed by the National Bank to provide financial payment services, and as a provider of financial payment services, it is a supervised institution of the NBU.
Ukrposhta provides access to basic payment services to millions of citizens, and accordingly, the proper functioning of the company is important for the stability and development of the payment market of Ukraine.
The National Bank has initiated the procedure for assessing the compliance of the General Director of Ukrposhta Smilianskyi with the requirements for professional suitability based on the results of the NBU's supervisory actions regarding the company's activities in 2023-2026.
During this period, the regulator has applied measures of influence (written warnings and fines) to Ukrposhta several times in connection with violations in the field of payment services, financial monitoring, as well as deficiencies in the risk management and internal control system.
Based on the results of the interview and analysis of the available materials, the Qualification Commission of the NBU concluded that there are grounds to recognize Smilianskyi as not meeting the requirements for professional suitability established for the head of a financial payment services provider.
Taking into account the information on the identified violations in the activities of Ukrposhta, as well as the answers and explanations provided by Smilianskyi during the interview conducted with him at the Qualification Commission of the NBU, the Committee concluded that he does not have a sufficient level of knowledge of the requirements of the legislation, understanding and experience in the proper application of the requirements of the current legislation, including the regulatory legal acts of the National Bank, to the extent necessary for the proper performance of his duties, ensuring an adequate level of corporate governance and internal control system, organization of a financial monitoring system and risk management system in JSC Ukrposhta, which indicates his non-compliance with the requirements for professional suitability as the head of a financial payment services provider.
"Guidance on its professional judgment, taking into account the principles of proportionality, reasonable doubt and comprehensive analysis, the Committee finds that the General Director of Ukrposhta JSC, Ihor Smilianskyi, does not meet the requirements for professional suitability established in Regulation No. 217, Regulation No. 199 for the head of a financial payment services provider. In view of this decision, in accordance with the requirements of the legislation, Ukrposhta JSC, represented by the authorized body, must take all necessary actions to replace the General Director and bring its activities into line with the requirements of the legislation of Ukraine and the regulatory legal acts of the National Bank," the message says.
It is noted that within five working days, the authorized body of Ukrposhta JSC must remove Smilianskyi from the management of Ukrposhta, and then within two months - appoint a new head who meets the requirements for professional suitability.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in 2024-2026, the NBU applied pressure measures in the form of fines to JSC Ukrposhta.
In September 2024, Ukrposhta announced that it planned to obtain a limited banking license.
In September 2025, the National Bank announced that it was waiting for documents from Ukrposhta to establish a bank; its director general Smilianskyi explained the reason for the delay.
Later, Ukrposhta received a warning from the NBU in the form of a written reprimand for violating the requirements of Ukrainian legislation regulating activities in the payment market.
After that, a dispute between the director general of Ukrposhta and the Chairman of the NBU was highlighted in the public space.
Then, Ukrposhta director general Ihor Smilianskyi announced his readiness to leave his position as soon as the company receives a license from the National Bank to conduct banking activities.
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