The largest state bank in Ukraine, PrivatBank, is currently processing loan applications from corporate clients totaling over 20 billion hryvnias. This was reported by the bank’s board member, Yevhen Zaihraiev. According to him, this involves dozens of different projects at various stages of preparation, including projects in the defense sector.
This is reported by Finway
Growth of Corporate Lending
In 2025, PrivatBank resumed lending to corporate clients after a ten-year hiatus, significantly increasing its corporate loan portfolio. According to Yevhen Zaihraiev, over the nine months of the year, the volume of such loans more than doubled: from 3.8 billion hryvnias in 2024 to 10.2 billion hryvnias in 2025. Since the beginning of the year, the bank has increased lending to Ukrainian business structures and corporate clients to 50 billion hryvnias.
“We made the decision that after a 10-year break, we must return to lending to corporate clients. This will support the economy, create added value, and assist those sectors that are suffering the most during wartime and need help,” Zaihraiev noted.
Priority Areas and State Support for the Defense Sector
PrivatBank is ready to actively finance development projects for Ukrainian companies across all sectors of the economy. The bank shows particular interest in projects in the agribusiness, retail, manufacturing, energy (including renewable), and defense industries, including state-owned companies. According to Zaihraiev, the bank is exploring lending opportunities for enterprises operating in these sectors to promote the country’s economic growth.
Last week, Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with representatives from the banking sector, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Bank regarding the implementation of lending mechanisms for arms manufacturers to fulfill state defense orders. A consortium of state banks has already been established in Ukraine, which can accumulate financial resources for credit support of defense enterprises. The government also aims to involve private banks, including those with foreign capital, in such projects and is working on mechanisms to insure them against war risks.