Overview
- The government has directed the Ministry of Finance to speed up the sale of Sense Bank and asked the National Bank to help resolve persistent corporate-governance and compliance problems at the institution.
- The move follows an anti-corruption operation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) that disclosed an alleged scheme to legalize cash through the bank and related accounts.
- NABU says its operation uncovered about 150 million hryvnias moved through networks of shell-company accounts and that suspects included senior officials and bank managers.
- Sense Bank confirmed that law-enforcement officers carried out investigative actions at its Kyiv headquarters linked to the probe, and the bank remains in state ownership under Finance Ministry management since its 2023 nationalization.
- Officials say proceeds from any sale will be used to fund the armed forces, but the ongoing criminal investigation and required governance reforms could complicate or delay the privatization process.