Oschadbank Has Received About 100 Applications So Far from Communities for Energy Resilience and Modernization Projects

Oschadbank has begun scaling up its new District Heating financing program for small communities, focusing on energy resilience, thermal modernization, and social infrastructure upgrades. The Bank is currently processing the first 100 applications from municipalities across Ukraine, most of which relate to the modernization of schools and hospitals.

This was reported by Nataliia Butkova-Vitvitska, Member of the Management Board of Oschadbank in charge of MSMEs, during Oschadbank Energy Finance 2026 forum.

According to her, the Bank is expanding its role in the municipal sector, focusing not only on large cities but also on small communities across Ukraine. Key areas include the thermal modernization of schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure facilities that require upgrades to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.

To implement this initiative, Oschadbank has attracted a financing facility from the European Investment Bank, which allows it to offer communities long-term financing for energy-related projects with maturities of up to 20 years, minimal collateral requirements and no extra commission fees.

“Oschadbank has a long-standing history of financing municipalities through its corporate business and is now expanding this cooperation by leveraging its MSME business line. In total, we have expertise in over 800 municipal projects worth approximately EUR 348 million, and the Bank’s market share in community financing reached 43% as of early 2026. In cooperation with our European partners, Oschadbank is now improving access to financing for smaller communities that have often been overlooked by major investment programs. To this end, we have built dedicated infrastructure, adapted our risk policies and mobilized new resources to support communities where access to financing used to be limited,” emphasized Nataliia Butkova-Vitvitska.

This new approach provides communities with a long-term financial tool that allows them not only to restore damaged infrastructure but also to systematically invest in modernization and improving quality of life.

Energy Finance 2026 is a large-scale energy forum organized by Oschadbank, which took place in Kyiv on May 13 and served as a key platform for discussing a new model of energy sustainability for Ukraine. The event brought together over 400 representatives from the public sector, international organizations, financial institutions, energy companies, and the business community to coordinate efforts in developing decentralized generation, supporting communities, and ensuring energy independence for households. The forum showcased how the banking sector is evolving to become the driving force behind the country’s comprehensive energy ecosystem. The event was sponsored by VISA, UPG, VUSO, and SONNEN+ ENERGIE.