The Pension Fund of Ukraine is officially ending its cooperation with the state-owned JSC "Ukreksimbank" on the servicing of citizens' social accounts. The decision takes effect on October 1, 2026: from this day onward, funds for October and subsequent months will no longer be credited to cards of this bank. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Pension Fund of Ukraine. For recipients of pensions and social assistance, this means they need to arrange new bank details in advance so that payments continue to be credited to their usual card.
What is happening and why
JSC "Ukreksimbank" is ceasing to be an authorized bank for the transfer of pensions and social assistance. The Pension Fund of Ukraine is removing it from the list of banks that service citizens' social accounts. This is not a cancellation of the payments themselves, but a change in the channel through which they are delivered: the state maintains its obligations to pensioners but transfers servicing to other financial institutions. In essence, this is an organizational decision to optimize the payment network, not a reduction of the social benefits themselves.
How to switch to another bank
To ensure uninterrupted crediting of funds, citizens need to choose any other institution from the list of authorized banks, open an account there, and submit an application to change the payment method to the Pension Fund of Ukraine. The application can be submitted in two ways — through the receiving bank or through the Pension Fund authorities. The key condition is to do this before servicing is terminated, so that October and subsequent payments are already made to the new card without delays.
What will happen to those who do not manage to change their details
For those who do not manage to change their bank details within the established deadline, the Pension Fund of Ukraine advises not to worry: the accrued funds are fully preserved, and the termination of payment accruals is not provided for. All money transfers for such recipients will be automatically routed through a branch of JSC "Ukrposhta" at the pensioner's actual place of residence or registration. Thus, the payment does not "expire" or get blocked — only the method of receiving it changes, from a bank card to the postal channel.
Contradictory data
There is a difference in emphasis in publications on the topic that is important to clarify. On the one hand, the materials highlight the deadline: customers who have not submitted an application to change their details by September 15 "risk losing their usual card payments" — that is, losing card crediting specifically from October 1. On the other hand, the Pension Fund directly states that the funds are not lost and automatically switch to payment via Ukrposhta. Both versions are consistent if the concepts are distinguished: "payment to a card" does indeed cease for those who submitted their application late, while "the pension payment as such" is preserved through the postal channel. It is also worth noting that as of the current date (September 21, 2026), the application deadline of September 15 has already passed, so for most customers the postal scenario or an urgent application to switch to another bank becomes the relevant option.
Context: budget and payments abroad
The decision regarding Ukreksimbank fits into a broader context of social sector financing. The Ministry of Finance has prepared a draft state budget for 2027, in which the Pension Fund's expenditures will increase by more than 200 billion hryvnias: the total amount will exceed 1 trillion 278 billion hryvnias, and the state budget will additionally allocate nearly 293 billion hryvnias for pension top-ups. Separately, lawyers remind that pensioners living abroad may have their payments temporarily suspended if they do not complete identity verification through the "Diia" app, video call, or consulate; however, the right to a pension is preserved, and payments resume after verification.
