Decision to allow cross-border payments to Ukraine through branches
The war in Ukraine is primarily a humanitarian catastrophe and our thoughts go out to all those people affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Handelsbanken has for some time limited the possibility of making cross-border payments to a number of countries, including Ukraine. The reason for this has been that too few payers used the service for us to be able to offer good services in the long term.
We are now facing a different situation, and we are therefore making it temporarily possible for private customers to make outgoing cross-border payments to Ukraine from a branch. This service is available in Sweden and is free of charge, although a conversion fee for currency exchange may be payable.
This is a temporary solution and we are monitoring the chain of events closely. In the event of a Russian occupation of Ukraine, or if the current situation deteriorates in some other way, the service will no longer be available. Areas in Ukraine that are already subject to sanctions (Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk) will remain closed for cross-border payments, and are not affected by this temporary change.
Private customers wishing to send money to Ukraine can contact their local branch for assistance. If you are uncertain about what details you need to have available when you visit the branch, please call Personal Service on 0771-77 88 99 or contact your branch directly.
There are many aid organisations that you can support, for example the Red Cross, Save the Children, UNHCR and Childhood, and these organisations will make sure that the support reaches its intended destination. Handelsbanken has co-operated with Childhood previously and has in the current circumstances also chosen to make a donation to the Red Cross. Please take a closer look at www.insamlingskontroll.se/90-konto-organisationer to see the Swedish organisations that have been checked by Swedish Fundraising Control (Svensk Insamlingskontroll), which ensures that all funds received reach their intended destination.
