The Nova Group, which includes «Nova Poshta», has received authorisation from the National Bank of Ukraine to acquire 100 per cent of the shares in BTA Bank. The buyer will be NovaPay Invest, whilst the group’s co-owners, Volodymyr Poperešniuk and Vyacheslav Klimov, will gain indirect control over the financial institution. The NBU adopted the relevant decision on 12 November 2026 and announced it publicly on 13 November. The acquisition of the bank will be the first step towards establishing its own financial inclusion bank, which will expand NovaPay’s capabilities and enable it to provide banking services through the «Nova Poshta» branch network.
- The NBU has approved the acquisition of 100 per cent of BTA Bank by the owners of «Nova Poshta».
- The direct purchaser will be «NovaPay Invest», a company belonging to the Nova Group.
- The new bank will offer deposits, foreign currency accounts and business services.
- The agreement has not yet been finalised; NovaPay’s current services are operating as normal.
The NBU has approved the acquisition of BTA Bank by the owners of «Nova Poshta»
According to the National Bank, To Volodymyr Poperešnyuk and To Vyacheslav Klimov enabled them jointly to acquire an indirect substantial holding amounting to 100 per cent of the authorised capital of BTA Bank through companies within the Nova Group.
The direct acquisition of all the shares in the financial institution has been approved by NovaPay Invest Ltd. The decision was taken following an analysis of the documents submitted by potential buyers.
A Kazakh businessman currently remains the controlling shareholder of BTA Bank Kenes Rakishiev, which indirectly holds 100 per cent of its share capital.
Approval by the NBU does not yet mean that the sale is complete. The parties must complete the necessary procedures to finalise the transaction.
What new services will be introduced by NovaPay?
Following the acquisition of the bank, the Nova Group plans to set up a financial inclusion bank. Its main objective is to make banking services accessible even in small towns and villages where there are no traditional bank branches.
According to the company’s plans, customers will gradually gain access to deposits, foreign currency accounts, international payments and additional financial instruments for entrepreneurs.
Vyacheslav Klimov, co-owner of Nova, explained that the company does not need to build a banking network from scratch, as «Nova Poshta» branches are already operating in remote communities.
Particular attention will be paid to pensioners, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, serving military personnel, veterans and residents of frontline areas.
What is known about BTA Bank and when will the new bank start operating?
BTA Bank is one of the smallest financial institutions in Ukraine. According to NBU, as at 1 September 2026, it ranked 59th among Ukrainian banks in terms of total assets, which amounted to approximately 338.5 million UAH.
Nova’s co-owners announced their intention to expand into the financial sector back in March 2026. In June, NovaPay Invest began preparations for the acquisition of a bank.
The future institution will operate on the model of a financial inclusion bank, for which a limited banking licence is envisaged.
The company has not yet announced an exact launch date for the new banking services. Until the deal is finalised, NovaPay will continue to operate as normal.
