Currency

In Ukraine there are one hundred kopiykas for one hryvnia (UAH). Hryvnia, introduced on the 2nd of September, 1996, is the only legal tender in Ukraine today. There are bills for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 hryvnias. Coins are for 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 kopiykas. Hryvnia can be easily converted to hard currency in any authorized bank of Ukraine or in numerous currency exchange offices. Please note that they do not exchange coins in Ukraine, so only banknotes are convertible. Avoid changing money with private individuals

Banks

Banks in Ukraine usually work from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Most banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday. A standard lunch hour is from 1:00 p.m. till 2:00 p.m. There are a lot of bank branches in the city center, so it will be easy to gain access to ATMs, cash travel checks or use other bank services. Among the first-rate banks of Ukraine are Pravex-Bank, Privat Bank, Raiffeisenbank Bank Aval.

Credit cards

There are three main credit cards accepted in major restaurants, stores, hotels and other venues. These are Visa, MasterCard and Eurocard. However, note that credit cards are not widely in use in Ukraine and sometimes they will not be accepted (particularly if the matter concerns smaller shops, cafes and remote areas). We recommend that you always have some cash at hand in case your credit card won't be accepted. If you have some local store credit cards, it's better to leave them at home.

Cash Dispensers

Today all major cities of Ukraine have a huge network of cash dispensers, or simply ATMs. In Ukraine an ATM will give you money in local currency, that is in hryvnias. In order to withdraw money from ATMs one should know his personal identification number (PIN), which must contain numbers only, as Ukrainian keypads have no letters. One will pay a fee for using ATMs but this fee is considerably lower than that for traveler's checks. When in Kiev, you will find ATMs quite easily.

Traveler's Checks

Traveler's checks are not widely accepted in Ukraine. It's recommended not to bring them (or bring only as a backup), as a high commission rate and much paperwork are always expected. If you still want to take some traveler's checks on your trip, take Thomas Cook or Visa, which are the most common in Ukraine. To cash traveler's checks you will need a passport and receipt of purchase. We recommend to cash checks in VABank or Oschadbank of Ukraine. easily.

Money Transfer

If you for some reason need to receive or send money while in Ukraine, you can do it quickly with the help of such internationally known companies as Western Union or MoneyGram. These companies have a network of authorized agents throughout the country. Agents' offices are mainly located in the bank buildings. Other options for sending or receiving money while in Ukraine include a wire bank transfer and a postal money order, which are less expensive but take more time.

Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory but usually expected in restaurants. If you believe that the service was good, you can leave some money for the waiter. Some restaurants put "Service not included" in their menu, and you will have to pay for the service as much as you consider necessary. Tipping can be 5 to 10 % of your total bill. Check your bill before paying. Tipping is not required in fast food restaurants, cafes, and other places where you order your food at a counter.