Despite the spread of electronic payments, cash remains necessary in Ukraine. In 2026, money can be withdrawn from an account in various ways: using a plastic card at an ATM, NFC payments, QR codes, mobile applications, and cash withdrawals at a bank teller. Small amounts can also be obtained at the checkout counters of some stores, pharmacies, and gas stations.
The UNN found out how to do this quickly and conveniently.
Ways to withdraw cash in Ukraine in 2026
The most common option is a card and an ATM. The customer inserts the card or taps it against the contactless reader, enters the PIN, and selects the amount.
The second method is withdrawing cash at a bank teller. This is more convenient if a large amount or specific banknote denominations are needed, or if the ATM has a lower limit. Large amounts often need to be ordered in advance.
The third option is cardless withdrawal. Depending on the bank and ATM, this may involve NFC with a smartphone or smartwatch, a QR code in the app, or authorization using a phone number. For example, Sense Bank allows customers to use not only a contactless card at ATMs with NFC, but also a phone or watch with a card added to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The “cash at checkout” service is also available. It means that when paying for a purchase by card, a customer can ask the cashier to additionally provide cash. This can be done at supermarkets of popular Ukrainian chains, pharmacies, and gas stations. However, the availability of the service and the maximum amount depend on the retail chain, the bank, and the amount of cash available at the checkout.
In addition, it is worth remembering that during martial law, a restriction imposed by the National Bank of Ukraine is in effect: within Ukraine, cash can be withdrawn from a hryvnia or foreign-currency account up to the equivalent of UAH 100,000 per day. At the same time, an individual bank may set lower per-transaction or daily limits.
Withdrawing cash through an ATM with and without a card
Conventional withdrawal with a physical card works at ATMs that support the relevant payment system. Before making a transaction, it is worth checking the card limit in the mobile application, as the bank or a particular ATM may limit the amount of a single transaction.
If the card is not nearby, some banks allow customers to withdraw cash without it. For example, at PrivatBank ATMs, money can be withdrawn using a QR code in Privat24 or after authorization with a financial phone number. According to the bank, the additional fee for withdrawing via QR code is UAH 0, while authorization by phone number costs UAH 2. The basic fee for dispensing the funds depends on the tariff of the particular card.
Cardless withdrawal is especially useful for holders of digital cards, as well as when the plastic card has been left at home. However, the functionality varies depending on the bank, so it is best to check whether this type of transaction is available in the institution’s app or on its website.
Without a card, via NFC or QR code: which method to choose
NFC withdrawal works similarly to using a contactless card. If an ATM has an NFC reader and supports the relevant method, a card, smartphone, or smartwatch with an added bank card can be tapped against it. The standard ATM menu then opens. The account holder confirms the debit transaction using the PIN.
The advantage of NFC is its speed and the fact that there is no need to insert a plastic card into the card slot. However, the possibility of making such a withdrawal depends on the ATM equipment, the bank, and whether the relevant card is supported by the digital wallet.
A QR code works differently. The user opens the banking app, scans the code on the ATM screen, or creates a transaction on a smartphone, and then confirms the cash withdrawal. This is convenient when the physical card is not available at all.
Therefore, NFC is advisable for making a quick withdrawal at a compatible ATM, while a QR code is preferable when the card has been left at home or exists only in digital form. At the same time, users should scan only the QR code displayed by the ATM itself or the official banking app, not third-party stickers on the device.
Cash withdrawal fees at different banks
There is no single fee for all Ukrainian cards. It depends on the bank, tariff package, card type, ATM, and whether a person is withdrawing their own or borrowed funds. Moreover, cash withdrawals from credit funds are often noticeably more expensive.
According to the current tariffs for PrivatBank’s "Universal" card, withdrawing one's own funds from the bank’s ATMs and cash-dispensing points costs 1% of the amount. A differentiated tariff applies to credit funds, and for withdrawals exceeding UAH 1,000, the fee is 4% of the amount.
At monobank, the basic fee for withdrawing one's own funds in Ukraine from a Black Card is 0.9%. Different terms may apply to certain types of incoming payments, including targeted payments, salaries, or payments to individual entrepreneurs.
At Oschadbank, the tariff depends on the package. For example, under the "My Card" package, whose terms are effective from August 2026, cash withdrawals at Oschadbank and other Ukrainian banks’ ATMs within the limit established by the package are free of charge, while withdrawals above that limit cost 1%. Cardless cash withdrawals through an Oschadbank cash desk, ATM, or POS terminal are charged at 1%.
For the VSEMOZH Online card, PUMB states that withdrawing one's own funds from ATMs in Ukraine is free of charge. By contrast, withdrawing credit funds costs 3.99% of the transaction amount.
Therefore, before carrying out a transaction, it is worth checking the tariff for your specific card. Even within the same bank, different card products may have significantly different terms.
What to do if you need to withdraw a large amount
If a substantial amount is needed, the most reliable option is a bank branch cash desk, with the money ordered in advance. An ATM is limited by its capacity, the denominations of banknotes available, and its own limits.
For example, PrivatBank imposes a limit of up to UAH 20,000 over a three-hour period at ATMs for a number of cards. A larger amount can be obtained at a cash desk after placing an advance order, but within the overall restrictions set by the NBU.
At monobank, for withdrawals exceeding UAH 50,000 or USD 1,000, customers are advised to order the funds in advance through customer support. An identity document is required to receive the cash.
Before placing an order, it is necessary to clarify the availability of the required amount and currency, the fee, and the list of required documents. If the amount exceeds the NBU’s daily limit, it will not be possible to bypass it by using several ATMs: the restriction applies to the disbursement of funds from the account, not to one particular device.
How to withdraw cash safely
Before withdrawing money, you should inspect the ATM itself. The NBU recommends not using devices with suspicious overlays or external parts, as well as ATMs that are malfunctioning or located in suspicious, poorly lit places. When entering the PIN, the keypad should be shielded with your hand.
You must not disclose your PIN, CVV/CVC, or transaction confirmation codes to anyone. The NBU emphasizes that neither the regulator nor banks call customers demanding that they provide a PIN or other confidential card details.
If an ATM debits the funds but does not dispense them, dispenses only part of the amount, retains the card, or operates suspiciously, you should record the device’s address or number and immediately contact your bank. When receiving a large amount, it is safer to use a branch cash desk, where the money can be ordered in advance and checked upon receipt.
As we can see, in 2026, the choice of how to withdraw cash depends primarily on the amount, the fee, and the available infrastructure. A regular ATM, NFC, or a QR code is suitable for everyday needs, while substantial amounts are better ordered in advance at a branch. Before each transaction, it is also worth checking the current tariff and limits for your specific card, as banks may change their service terms.
Reminder
Earlier, UNN reported on the TOP financial mistakes made by Ukrainians that constantly leave them short of money.