Ukrainian Swift Users and Members Group Becomes a Full Member of ESA

On October 17, 2025, a historic milestone for the Ukrainian financial community took place. At the plenary session of the EMEA Swift Alliance (ESA), a unanimous decision was made to grant the Ukrainian group of Swift users and members full membership status in ESA, transitioning from observer status.

Why This Matters for Ukraine

Full membership in ESA marks a new stage of Ukraine’s integration into the European and global financial messaging infrastructure. From now on, Ukraine will have a full voice in shaping Swift’s strategy in the EMEA region, as well as in decision-making related to ISO 20022 standards, Swift’s corporate governance, and the adoption of innovative services.

This achievement is the result of years of dedicated work by the Ukrainian Swift community, which has actively participated in consultations, provided feedback, and presented a consolidated position on key issues of international financial standards development.

New Opportunities for the Ukrainian Financial Community

Transitioning to full ESA membership brings:

• A stronger voice for Ukraine in discussions and decision-making on Swift’s strategy.

• Access to a broader range of ESA working groups and the ability to influence the implementation of financial innovations.

• Enhanced cooperation with European and international partners, facilitating Ukraine’s integration into SEPA and other important financial initiatives.

• Support for technological development in Ukraine, especially in the fields of open finance, digital identity, and API standardization.

International Recognition

Ukraine’s acceptance as a full ESA member is not only a technical or organizational step. It is also a symbolic recognition of Ukraine as an important participant in the global financial community, actively adopting international standards and contributing to the strengthening of financial infrastructure in times of war and global challenges.

Reference

ESA Member Countries

Andorra, Austria, United Kingdom, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine.

ESA Supporting Countries

These countries support the election of ESA-appointed Board members. They receive certain information from ESA, such as SWIFT Board meeting minutes and informational reports. However, they generally do not take an active role in ESA discussions.

Supporting countries include:Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkmenistan.

✍️ UkrSwift will continue to work on integrating the Ukrainian financial system into the global community, protecting the country’s interests, and fostering effective development of financial services innovation.