Over 20% of Oschadbank’s Loans & Business Accounts Sales Are Now Online: How the Bank Is Implementing Accessibility in Its Digital Services for Businesses

Oschadbank is making its digital services for businesses accessible: over 20% of business clients’ transactions are already performed online, and decisions on certain loan products are made within 24 hours. This was announced by Natalia Butkova-Vitvitska, member of Oschadbank’s Management Board in charge of MSMEs, during the panel discussion “Business Without Barriers: How Accessible Products, Services, and Opportunities Are Created,” which took place as part of the third annual forum “My Accessibility: Lessons Learned.”

The discussion was moderated by Anna Derevianko, Executive Director of the European Business Association. Senior Business Development Director at Visa Ukraine Olena Kuzmenko, Administrative Director at EPAM Ukraine Oleksandr Tesler, HR Director at METRO Ukraine Anna Tolmachova, Executive Director of HR/Administration/Logistics at PZU Valerii Kushnirenko, and Director of DTEK Service Tetiana Shyshlova joined the discussion.

Participants discussed practical solutions that help businesses create an accessible environment: how to address people's needs as early as the digital product development stage, test services directly with users, identify and remove barriers in the work environment, adapt workplaces, and support the reintegration of veterans and people with disabilities. The consensus was that accessibility should not be a stand-alone social initiative, but rather an integral part of business processes – from their design to daily interactions with customers and employees.

Natalia Butkova-Vitvitska shared a case study illustrating this approach. According to her, accessibility for entrepreneurs today has four key dimensions: access to financing, the development of veteran and women’s entrepreneurship, digital access to banking services, and business support in frontline territories.

“Accessibility for business is measured in very specific terms. It means the ability to secure financing, open an account, or perform necessary transactions whenever and wherever it is convenient and safe for the entrepreneur. Today, about 20% of loan and business account sales to our business clients are conducted online, and decisions on certain loan products are made within 24 hours. For entrepreneurs, this means less physical travel, less time spent on red tape, and faster access to financial tools. This is especially important during wartime, when distance, the security situation, or physical presence may pose additional challenges. It is crucial for us to ensure that accessibility is not a stand-alone initiative, but a principle embedded in the product and the process of its creation,” said Natalia Butkova-Vitvitska.

The primary digital channels for remote business servicing are the “OschadBusiness” and “CorpLight” systems. These allow entrepreneurs to perform essential banking transactions with no need to visit a branch. The digitization of banking services helps reduce physical barriers for entrepreneurs while making interactions with the bank faster and more convenient.

Another key area is access to financing for entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their businesses. Oschadbank has launched a program to finance the purchase of franchises for veteran-owned businesses on preferential terms. This program allows individuals to start their businesses even with no prior entrepreneurial experience. To date, about 200 entrepreneurs have already taken advantage of this financing.

The Bank is also supporting women’s entrepreneurship through financing programs on special terms, as well as educational opportunities, while supporting businesses in frontline regions through tailored financial solutions.

The panelists’ experiences demonstrated that accessibility in business is increasingly becoming not just a set of individual practices, but an approach to creating products, services, and the work environment. It has resulted in fewer barriers for customers, employees, and entrepreneurs, and more opportunities for their economic activity. The shift from stand-alone initiatives to a systematic approach was one of the key insights from the panel discussion at the “My Accessibility: Lessons Learned” forum.

The forum was initiated and organized by Oschadbank with the support of Visa as part of the “Barrier-Free” initiative launched by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska. The event brought together about 400 participants, including representatives from government, business, civil society, the veteran community, and the public sector.