Number of legal currency exchange outlets 1.5 times up in Jan-June

The number of structural divisions of non-bank financial institutions with currency exchange licenses issued by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) grew by 1.5 times in January-June 2016, to 2,960.

The central bank said on its website that as of January 1, 2016, their number was 1,988, and it was 70% up year-over-year.

"We do not control illegal currency exchange outlets, but we back the development of legal outlets and toughen supervision over their operations," Deputy NBU Governor Kateryna Rozhkova said.

She said that NBU supports revoking 2% fee collected to the Pension Fund from currency exchange transactions.

As of July 6, 2016, currency exchange licenses were issued to 27 non-bank financial institutions, including 12 licenses in 2016.