KIEV, Jan. 11 – The assets of Ukraine's banking system by the end of 2017 will amount to UAH 1.5-1.6 trillion (as of October 1, 2016 some UAH 1.27 trillion), while the number of banks will not exceed 75-80 against 95 currently operating, former deputy head of the National Bank of Ukraine Vladyslav Rashkovan forecasts.

"It remains to be seen, but it should be a good year for the banking system and its customers," he wrote on his Facebook page.

According to his forecast, the share of the largest 20 banks will increase to 92-93% of total assets (as of October 1, 2016 some 89.8%), while the share of the second group of local banks will fall to 2-2.5%. The share of foreign and state-owned banks (including nationalized PrivatBank) will continue to grow - up to 82-85%, and that of local and Russian - to decline. However, there would not appear new foreign banks, but deals to acquire the assets of financial institutions will continue, mainly in the framework of Russian banks' leaving the Ukrainian market.