Sending business payments from the US to Ukraine
A US company pays a Ukrainian supplier or IT contractor by SWIFT wire in US dollars to the IBAN of the company's foreign currency account at a Ukrainian bank, quoting the contract number and date. Goods contracts carry an NBU settlement deadline supervised by the Ukrainian bank, while since January 2026 service exports other than transportation are exempt from deadlines. This guide covers the details to collect, the rules, timing, documents and fees.
- Exports of goods carry a 180-day settlement deadline under NBU Resolution No. 18 of 24 February 2022, which the Ukrainian bank servicing the contract supervises, as reported by KMP.
- For listed agricultural goods such as wheat, corn, barley and sunflower seeds, the deadline was cut to 90 days from 11 November 2023, and the proceeds must reach the exporter's Ukrainian bank accounts.
- From 21 February 2024, a bank may end supervision of a goods contract only if the funds from the non-resident arrive in foreign currency, not hryvnia.
- Following NBU Resolutions No. 2 and No. 3 of 13 January 2026, all exports of services except transportation are exempt from settlement deadlines, as reported by PwC.
- PrivatBank states that SWIFT transfers are credited automatically where there are no signs of risk, and that intermediary banks may deduct their own commissions.
Details to collect from your recipient in Ukraine
Ukrainian accounts use IBAN, the International Bank Account Number, which begins with UA, and a company's dollar account has its own IBAN separate from its hryvnia account. Ukrainian banks ask for documentary support for foreign currency receipts, usually the foreign economic contract, so the contract number belongs in your payment.
| Detail | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | The name exactly as in the Unified State Register, in Latin letters as on the account | Transliteration differences cause queries |
| IBAN | The IBAN of the USD account, beginning UA | The hryvnia IBAN leads to conversion or a query |
| Bank name, address and SWIFT code | 8 or 11 characters | Routes the wire |
| Intermediary bank | The US correspondent the bank names for dollars, with its SWIFT code | Needed by some US banks |
| Payment details | Contract number and date, and the invoice number | Lets the bank match the receipt without a query |
Sources: PrivatBank, receiving SWIFT transfers; field list compiled by the Helm Editorial Team. As published on 29 October 2026.
USD or hryvnia: what the NBU rules mean for your payment
Ukraine's Currency Law No. 2473-VIII of 2018 set the framework, and since February 2022 NBU Board Resolution No. 18 has added wartime restrictions. The NBU changes these rules by resolution, so the supplier's bank has the final word on the current position. The US dollar to hryvnia page covers the currency.
| Rule | What it says | What it means for your payment |
|---|---|---|
| Goods exports | 180-day settlement deadline under Resolution No. 18, supervised by the servicing bank | Pay within the agreed term |
| Listed agricultural goods | Deadline of 90 days from 11 November 2023; proceeds must land in the exporter's Ukrainian bank accounts | Pay the supplier's account in Ukraine |
| Currency of payment | Since 21 February 2024, supervision closes only when funds from the non-resident arrive in foreign currency | Pay goods invoices in dollars or another foreign currency, not hryvnia |
| Services | All services except transportation exempt from settlement deadlines since January 2026 | No deadline pressure on IT and agency invoices |
| Accounts abroad | Companies may receive funds into accounts abroad without an individual NBU license, with reporting to the NBU | A service contractor may give you an account abroad in its own name |
Sources: KMP, 20 June 2025; American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, 14 November 2023; UkrAgroConsult on NBU Resolution No. 24; PwC Ukraine, 19 January 2026; Kinstellar via Mondaq, August 2026. As published on 29 October 2026.
For goods, the safe course is to pay the company's foreign currency account at the Ukrainian bank that supervises the contract; a payment that first lands abroad and is then sent on comes from the exporter, not from you. For the recipient's view, see how Ukrainian businesses receive USD.
Rails and arrival times to Ukraine
A dollar wire settles in the United States on Fedwire, which opens at 9:00 p.m. ET on the previous calendar day, takes customer transfers until 6:45 p.m. ET and closes at 7:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday. Kyiv is usually 7 hours ahead of New York, so a wire sent by late morning in New York can reach a Ukrainian bank within its working day.
| Route | What the recipient receives | Timing, as published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWIFT wire in USD to the USD IBAN | US dollars | PrivatBank states SWIFT transfers are credited automatically where there are no signs of risk | The standard route for goods and services |
| SWIFT wire to the hryvnia IBAN | Hryvnia, converted by the bank | Credited on a Ukrainian business day | For goods, hryvnia does not close supervision |
| Wire to a service contractor's account abroad | US dollars, held abroad in the contractor's name | Set by the receiving bank | Services only; the contractor reports to the NBU |
Sources: PrivatBank, receiving SWIFT transfers; Kinstellar via Mondaq; Federal Reserve Financial Services, Fedwire operating hours. As published on 29 October 2026.
Documents, screening and why payments to Ukraine are held
Ukrainian banks check each foreign currency receipt against the underlying contract, and for goods they also check the receipt against the settlement deadline. Quote the contract number and date in the payment details, and send a copy of your SWIFT confirmation when the wire leaves. Screen the recipient's name, registered address and bank as part of your own checks.
Screen before you pay: OFAC's guidance is that every US person, US-incorporated companies and their foreign branches included, must comply with US sanctions, so check the recipient and its bank against OFAC's lists before the first payment (OFAC FAQ 11).
| Problem | What happens | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| No contract number in the payment | The bank asks the recipient for documents | Quote the contract number and date |
| Dollars sent to the hryvnia IBAN | Converted; for goods, supervision may not close | Ask for the USD account's IBAN |
| Name transliterated differently | Queried or returned | Copy the Latin name exactly as on the account |
| Goods payment sent to an account abroad | Does not land in the Ukrainian bank that supervises the contract | Pay the supplier's account in Ukraine |
| Wire sent as SHA | Arrives short; the gap is queried on a supervised contract | Use OUR charges |
Sources: American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine; UkrAgroConsult; PrivatBank; Helm Editorial Team. As published on 29 October 2026.
Costs: SHA, OUR and Helm's fees for payments to Ukraine
Each Ukrainian bank sets its own business tariff for crediting a dollar wire, and PrivatBank states that intermediary banks may deduct their own commissions. On a supervised goods contract, a short payment leaves a gap the bank will ask about, so send goods invoices with OUR charges. For the recipient's account options, see USD business accounts in Ukraine.
Helm, a financial technology company and not a bank, sends international payments from your company's account by SWIFT and by local rails in the recipient's currency where available, confirmed by your account manager. The rate, fee and expected arrival are shown before you confirm. Helm's US dollar account services are provided by Bridge Building, Inc. (NMLS ID 2450917), a licensed money transmitter, with funds held at Lead Bank.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
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How do I send a business payment from the US to Ukraine?
Send a SWIFT wire in US dollars to the IBAN of the company's USD account at its Ukrainian bank, with the bank's SWIFT code, its US correspondent and the contract number and date in the payment details.
Is there a deadline for paying a Ukrainian supplier?
For goods, NBU Resolution No. 18 sets a 180-day settlement deadline that the Ukrainian bank supervises, and 90 days for listed agricultural goods. Services other than transportation have been exempt since January 2026.
Can I pay a Ukrainian supplier in hryvnia?
For goods, pay in foreign currency: since 21 February 2024 a bank may close supervision of a contract only when the funds arrive in foreign currency, not hryvnia.
Can I pay a Ukrainian IT contractor's account abroad?
For services, yes in principle: companies may receive funds into accounts abroad without an individual NBU license and report them to the NBU, and services other than transportation have no settlement deadline.
How long does a wire from the US to Ukraine take?
The dollars settle in the US on Fedwire, and PrivatBank states that SWIFT transfers are credited automatically where there are no signs of risk. Kyiv is usually 7 hours ahead of New York.
What does Helm charge to send money to Ukraine?
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
References
- KMP: Settlement deadlines under export-import contracts, 180 or 365 days (20 June 2025)
- American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine: settlement period for listed agricultural exports reduced to 90 days (14 November 2023)
- PwC Ukraine: The NBU continues easing currency restrictions (19 January 2026)
- Kinstellar via Mondaq: Foreign bank accounts, when and how Ukrainian businesses report to the NBU (August 2026)
- UkrAgroConsult: NBU Resolution No. 24 of 20 February 2024
- PrivatBank: Receiving SWIFT transfers
- Federal Reserve Financial Services: Fedwire Funds Service operating hours
- Office of Foreign Assets Control: FAQ 11, Who must comply with OFAC sanctions?
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.