Oschadbank and the German Sparkassenstiftung Signed a Memorandum on Technical Assistance and Expertise Sharing at the URC

On the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Gdańsk, a memorandum on cooperation was signed between two leading financial institutions, Oschadbank and the Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation (German Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation). The agreement formalises the partnership transition    to a more advanced institutional level and aims to jointly implement best European practices in the areas of corporate governance, human capital development and the digitalisation of processes.

Natalia Butkova-Vitvitska, the Member of the Management Board of Oschadbank, and Dr. Michael Beck, Head of Projects for Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa at the DSIK Foundation, have signed the document.

The new partnership represents a logical evolution of a successful project launched by the parties in 2023, whereby Oschadbank pioneered the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards into its work with micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMB).

This time, financial sector leaders from Ukraine and Germany will focus on implementing comprehensive internal transformations. In particular, the plan envisages cooperation on  management systems modernization  to improve the operational efficiency of Ukrainian bank. Significant attention is being paid to technology and risk management: experts will join forces to assess and refine risk protocols, thereby contributing to the effectiveness of further automation and the implementation of smart systems. Another key area involves human capital development through the creation of innovative onboarding programs for Oschadbank's new specialists, as well as bilateral institutional exchanges and professional training for Ukrainian bank employees at German savings banks (Sparkassen).

The initiative has been implemented as part of the DSIK Regional Project supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and scheduled to run until September 2028.

“We are pleased to thank one of Europe’s most successful banking groups for its assistance in implementing international sustainability standards and strengthening our own expertise in ESG. This new memorandum marks the next stage of our partnership - adopting the best European practices in the areas of governing, staff development and risk management. This is an important contribution to Oschadbank’s ongoing transformation, the strengthening of its institutional capacity and the development of modern services for our customers,” noted Natalia Butkova-Vitvitska, a Member of Oschadbank’s Management Board in charge of  MSME.

“Oschadbank shows incredible resilience and high development standards  despite extremely tough challenges. It is a great honour for the German team to work side by side with such a strong institutional partner. We aim not merely to share the tools of the German Sparkassen, but to create a shared space for innovation to strengthen Ukraine’s financial system and accelerate its integration into the European banking community”, emphasized Dr. Michael Beck, DSIK’s Head of Projects for Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

This agreement expands Oschadbank’s international partnership and reaffirms the high level of trust people have for it being a reliable, progressive institution following the best European standards.