MPs have proposed that the national post office, JSC Ukrposhta, is permitted to provide financial services to the public and open postal accounts.
A total of 232 MPs approved bill No. 2788-d at first reading.
According to the bill, Ukrposhta will be able to open and maintain postal accounts for crediting pensions, wages, social benefits from the state, and income from trade. Also, the company will receive the right to settle banking operations, currency exchange, issue payment cards for servicing postal accounts.
“Today, ATMs are only in 30% of settlements, banking branches, in general, are only in 6% of settlements. In terms of the availability of financial services for people, we are somewhere close to Uganda, Gabon and Ecuador. According to bill No. 2788-d, which was supported by MPs at first reading, a system of postal accounts is being introduced, which is actually equivalent to bank accounts, which will allow Ukrposhta to provide affordable financial services to all Ukrainians, because even in the smallest towns and villages, unlike banks, there are post offices. For the company itself these changes will significantly enhance the ability of operating and developing,” Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy said, commenting on the bill approved by the Verkhovna Rada, who was quoted by the press service of the Ministry of Infrastructure on its website.
According to him, such services of Ukrposhta will become especially relevant for 15 million Ukrainians who live in rural areas. They will be able to more conveniently receive pensions, other social benefits, cash assistance or transfer funds.
