The National Bank of Ukraine on Friday introduced a temporary limit on foreign-currency withdrawals from private cash accounts to counter a rush for cash amid a sharply depreciating national currency.
"The National Bank adopted a temporary decree, which limits withdrawal of cash from the current foreign-exchange accounts at the equivalent of 15,000 hryvnia ($1,500)" at the current exchange rate, the newly appointed chairman of the central bank, Stepan Kubiv, told reporters. He added that the limit will be lifted when Ukraine receives necessary aid, having requested assistance from the International Monetary Fund on Thursday.
No limits have been placed on hryvnia cash withdrawals. "Take as much as you want, a million or two million [hryvnia], there is enough liquidity in banks," Mr. Kubiv said.
Under the decree, customers can convert their foreign-currency savings into hryvnia before making withdrawals with no limit.
Many Ukrainians save their money in dollars and euros, and have rushed to withdraw their savings as the hryvnia has dropped. Seven percent of the deposits held in Ukraine's banks have been withdrawn in February.