National Bank of Ukraine unveils guidance note with the EBRD to help financial institutions employ and support war veterans

The National Bank of Ukraine, working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has presented a Guidance Note with recommendations and a practical implementation toolkit to help Ukrainian financial institutions become more inclusive, safer and more accessible employers for war veterans and other war-affected groups. Korn Ferry developed the materials over eight months with EBRD support, drawing on the Charter on Financial Inclusion and Reintegration of Veterans promoted under an earlier NBU-EBRD memorandum of understanding. The Guidance Note focuses on inclusive HR practices and resocialisation support, including flexible working arrangements, mental health support and tailored onboarding, and frames these measures as part of improving accessibility for veterans as both employees and customers. It is aligned with Ukrainian legislation, including the Law on the Status of War Veterans and Guarantees of Their Social Security and the Labour Code, and was supported by the Action for Equality and Gender Fund. The NBU called on financial institutions to implement the Guidance Note, and the EBRD indicated it is ready to support monitoring and reporting on implementation progress.