KIEV, July 1 – Despite removal of banks from the market, capitalization of the banking system since early 2015 has grown by 18% or UAH 39 billion, to UAH 218 billion as of May 1, 2016, according to a presentation at a press conference of the National Bank of Ukraine.

According to the NBU, the number of banks over the period decreased from 147 to 109.

After stress tests the charter capital of top 20 banks was increased by UAH 98.6 billion.