Founded in 1990 in Kharkiv and part of the BNP Paribas Group since 2006, UKRSIBBANK is one of Ukraine’s largest and most stable financial institutions, serving more than two million retail, SME, and corporate clients across the country. With 60 percent of its shares held by BNP Paribas and 40 percent by the EBRD, the bank ranks in the top five for net income and top three for reliability among Ukrainian banks. Even as Ukraine navigates the ongoing war, UKRSIBBANK has deepened its commitment to inclusive finance — most visibly through its “Women in Business” program, launched in 2019.
We spoke with Yanina Olkhovska, Director of Communications, CSR, ESG and Engagement, about how the bank is serving women entrepreneurs in one of the world’s most challenging operating environments.
Alliance: For the benefit of our global audience, could you share UKRSIBBANK’s market position in Ukraine and the strategic vision for the institution?
Yanina Olkhovska (YO): UKRSIBBANK is one of Ukraine’s leading universal banks and a long-standing member of the BNP Paribas Group. We serve retail, SME, and corporate clients across the country, and play an active role in supporting economic resilience, sustainable finance, and inclusive growth. Our vision is built around three pillars: responsible banking, sustainable development, and long-term partnership with our clients and society. Even amid the ongoing war, we continue to invest in ESG transformation, digital innovation, and inclusive finance — particularly where financial services can unlock recovery and growth, such as women-led entrepreneurship.
Alliance: How has the ongoing war in Ukraine affected the entrepreneurial ecosystem — and more specifically, how has it impacted UKRSIBBANK’s work with women entrepreneurs?
YO: The war has deeply disrupted Ukraine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Many businesses have faced displacement, asset destruction, supply chain interruptions, and loss of workforce. At the same time, entrepreneurship — especially among women — has become a powerful tool for resilience, economic survival, and community recovery.
Women entrepreneurs today often combine business leadership with caregiving, relocation, and volunteer responsibilities. Their needs go far beyond access to finance. In response, UKRSIBBANK has strengthened its work with women entrepreneurs by focusing on financing, liquidity support, financial education, psychological resilience, and advisory services.
Our “Women in Business” program started in 2019 and has evolved during the war to address new realities. We have placed greater emphasis on flexibility, partnership‑based solutions, and non‑financial support that helps women entrepreneurs not only sustain their businesses but also rebuild and scale their business in the current environment.
Alliance: Please set the context of women’s financial inclusion in Ukraine and share UKRSIBBANK’s strategy for advancing it.
YO: Ukraine has relatively high levels of women’s participation in education and entrepreneurship, yet women-led businesses remain more vulnerable to economic shocks and face greater barriers to financing, networks, and mentorship — challenges the war has amplified. Our strategy through “Women in Business” is holistic: improve access to finance on fair and transparent terms, strengthen financial literacy and business skills, expand professional networks and visibility for women entrepreneurs, and embed gender equality into our ESG agenda. For us, women’s financial inclusion is not a niche initiative — it is a strategic investment in long-term economic resilience.
Alliance: Which customer segments among women are you prioritizing, and what tailored value propositions do you offer them?
YO: We primarily focus on women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises — including early-stage entrepreneurs, women scaling existing businesses, displaced women entrepreneurs restarting their activities, and those operating in regional and local communities. Our value proposition combines financial and non-financial solutions:
- Financial: tailored lending products, transactional solutions, and access to partner programs.
- Non-financial: educational programs and webinars, mentorship and expert sessions, networking opportunities, and inspirational campaigns highlighting role models.
This integrated approach helps women build confidence, capabilities, and sustainable businesses.
Alliance: How is UKRSIBBANK leveraging technology to reach and serve women entrepreneurs?
YO: Digitalization has been critical, especially under wartime conditions. UKRSIBBANK actively leverages digital channels to ensure continuity, accessibility, and convenience for women entrepreneurs.
Through remote onboarding, digital banking platforms, online education events, and digital communications within the “Women in Business” ecosystem, we have strengthened our capacity to reach women regardless of their location. Technology enables us to stay connected with clients who have relocated within Ukraine or abroad, reduce administrative burdens, and free up time that women can dedicate to their businesses and families.
Alliance: Where is UKRSIBBANK in its gender data journey, and how are you using that information to refine your offerings?
YO: As part of BNP Paribas Group and in line with our ESG commitments, we are systematically improving how we collect and analyze data on women-led businesses. This helps us better understand client behavior, risk profiles, and unmet needs, and allows us to refine products, communication, and educational content within “Women in Business.” Our gender data journey is ongoing, but already an essential tool for making our women’s market strategy more evidence based. Ukraine is also in the process of joining the WE Finance Code Ukraine, coordinated by the EBRD, and as the only bank with a dedicated women’s entrepreneurship program, we are proud to be pioneering this initiative.
Alliance: Does UKRSIBBANK have a strategy to support young entrepreneurs, and especially young women?
YO: Yes, supporting young entrepreneurs is a natural extension of our inclusion strategy. UKRSIBBANK works with young people and start-ups through educational initiatives, digital solutions, and early-stage financial products.
Young women entrepreneurs are a particular focus within our educational and networking activities, where we help them build financial confidence, business skills, and professional connections. Empowering young women economically means investing in the future competitiveness and sustainability of Ukraine’s economy.
Alliance: Why did you decide to join the Financial Alliance for Women, and what are you most looking forward to?
YO: We joined the Financial Alliance for Women because we strongly believe in the power of collective expertise and global knowledge sharing. The Alliance provides a unique platform to learn from leading financial institutions worldwide, exchange practical insights, and benchmark our initiatives against global best practices.
We also see value in sharing Ukraine’s experience — especially how women entrepreneurs demonstrate resilience and leadership in times of crisis. We look forward to contributing to the network and continuously strengthening our impact for women, businesses, and society as a whole.
