The Odessa Guide Odessa, Ukraine
Banking and currency
Exchanging
money:
Few stores and restaurants accept traveler's checks
or credit cards, though the number is steadily
increasing every year.
Travelers
should bring foreign currency, either US dollars (more
widely accepted) or Euros. Exchange kiosks also accept
Russian Rubles.
Exchange Sign, if it is posted outside, it is the
low exchange rate
Many other photos
need to be done, below
The number
of currency exchange kiosks Ab-man Val-yat (Обман
Валот) in Odessa is immense. The exchange rate is
suspiciously the same throughout the city. If traveling
through Kiev to get to Odessa, it is advised to exchange
money in Kiev, as the exchange rate is usually much
lower in Odessa.
Exchanging
kiosks at bus stations, airports and train stations
often offer a worse exchange rate.
Exchange
kiosks often give a receipt for money exchanged. Exchange
kiosks that do not automatically give a receipt will
give a receipt if asked. Exchange rates by law are
always posted above the kiosk window with an official
Ukrainian stamp (Ukrainians have a passionate infatuation
with "official" stamps) There is never
any extra commission charge for exchanging money.
Getting
a better exchange rate:
Currency exchange kiosks / Ob-man Val-yat (Обман Валот)
that do not have a post board on the street or simply
say "Работа"(working), or that do not have
a post board, have better exchange rates.
Many of
the shops on Sadovaya (Садовая) sometimes have non-posted
better rates than the rest of Odessa. Refan, a small
store at Preobrazhenskaya 46 (Преображенская) near
to Centralnaya (центральная) hotel also sometimes
has a better exchange rate. Refan is open 10am - 7
pm Monday - Saturday and 11 am - 6 pm on Sunday.
Vendors
in the bazaar explain the reason why money exchangers
with higher rates do not post those rates is to try
and avoid taxes, if the aggressive Ukrainian tax police
see the higher rate posted, they will demand more
money.
Warning:
NEVER
exchange money with someone on the street, the number
of scams with these transactions are huge. Counterfeit
money is very common problem in Ukraine.
Grecheskaya
Ploshat (Square) (Греческая Площадь) Book Bazaar:
The book and CD bazaar on Grecheskaya Ploshat (Square)
(Греческая Площадь) has many vendors with huge fistfuls
of rubber banded Hryvna. These vendors exchange money
at a much more favorable rate (around 10 kopecks better
on the dollar). Though technically illegal, like many
things in Ukraine, it is not enforced. The police turn
a blind eye because the moneychangers pay regular bribes.
Unless
you are able to spot counterfeit money or are with a
native Ukrainian who knows how to spot counterfeit money,
do not risk exchanging money at the bazaar.
If
you do decide to exchange money at the bazaar, Valery,
at stall 28 is an honest money exchanger.
Banks:
Bank hours tend to be from 10 am to 3 pm, often with
a one hour lunch. Banks are closed on Saturday and
Sunday.
ATMs:
There are dozens of ATMs located around the center
of Odessa. Many are located in hotels and restaurants.
Many ATMs
give both Dollars and Hryvna.
The average
service charge for using an ATM is between $6-$12,
in addition to your home bank service charge.
Strangely,
service charges vary widely at different ATMs owned
by the same company.
The cheapest
ATM we have found is the Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк)
ATM, inside the Galeria Vop-on-tsov Restaurant/Bar
(Бар-Галерея Воронцов) Deribasovskaya 24 (Дерибасовская),
for $6 service charge.
Travelers
Checks
Londonskaya (Лондонская)
Primorsky Boulevard 11 (Приморский Бульвар)
Tel: 37-14-51
Londonskaya hotel accepts both American Express and
Thomas Cook Traveler's checks, the service charge
is 2-3%.
Western
Union
800-325-6000
www.westernunion.com
The number of Ukrainians that live abroad has skyrocketed
since the fall of the Soviet Union. This can be seen
in the number of Western Union offices throughout
Ukraine, because many family members abroad have family
that have stayed behind in Ukraine.
Cash may
be directly transferred to or from Western Union to
an office outside of Ukraine. Most US and major European
cities have a Western Union office.
The commission
charge for using Western Union, paid for by the sender,
is often very expensive. See examples of some of the
prices below.
Within
Ukraine (from a Ukraine location to another Ukraine
location) a customer may transfer Hryvna, which is
significantly cheaper, than transferring dollars.
Locations
are listed below.
Post
Office money transfers in Ukraine:
Post office money transfers within Ukraine are available
at all post offices. Fill out a special form, listing
recipient's name, address, and telephone. The service
charge in nominal. Transfers are in Hryvna only. Money
transfers take less than a week to arrive.
Currency:
The basic unit of currency in Ukraine is the Hryvna.
The Ukrainian Hryvna is divided into 100 kopecks
Coins come
in denominations of 1,2,5,10,25, and 50 kopecks. Though
most Odessites seldom use the 1 and 2 kopeck, prices
are usually rounded up to reflect this.
Banks come
in denominations of 1,2,5,10,20,50,100, and 200. The
200 Hryvna bill is rare.
The Hryvna
was introduced in September of 1996. The actual bills
were printed in 1991-92 but was not introduced until
mid 1996 because of high rates of inflation and a
general lack of stability. Prior to the Hryvna, Ukraine
was using "Coupon" as the national currency,
which was just a stage in transition from Soviet Ruble
to Ukrainian Hryvna. Because of hyperinflation the
bills became so useless that some Ukrainians used
them as toilet paper.
In 1996
a new design was developed with watermarks and a metal
strip on each bill. Currently, both kinds of bills
are used, but the old currency is being phased out
by the newer currency--similar to the policy the United
States now has for its newer bills.
1
Hryvna
FRONT Vladimir the Great, one of the princes of Kievan
Rus.
BACK The Southern Ukrainian city Hersones, founded by
the Greeks in 350 B.C.
2
Hryvnas
FRONT Yaraslov the Wise, leader of Kievan Rus
BACK St. Sofia Cathederal, Kiev
5
Hryvnas
FRONT Bogdan Hmelnitsky, Cossack leader,led a revolt
against the Polish from 1648-1653, gaining independence
from Poland.
BACK Church in the small village of Subotovo, Ukraine
10
Hryvnas
FRONT Ivan Mazepa, Cossack Leader
BACK Kiev-Perchersk Lavra, a monastery founded in the
12th century
20
Hyrvnas
FRONT Ivan Franko, a famous Ukrainian writer
BACK Lviv Opera Theater, western Ukraine
50
Hryvnas
FRONT Mikhail Grushevsky, Early twentieth century Ukrainian
Historian
BACK Verkhovnaya Rada, Ukraine's parliament in kiev
100
Hryvnas
FRONT Taras Shevchenko, the famous poet
BACK St. Sofia Cathedral in Kiev, built in 1040 AD
200
Hryvnas
FRONT Lesia Ukrainka, Ukrainian poet and dramatist
BACK Gate tower of Lutsk Castle
Please
note:
- It is
advisable to always carry lower denomination notes
for taxis.
- Many
shops never have enough small change, and will often
ask customers for change. Many grocery stores ("store"
is "magazine" in Russian) offer small
candy or gum in lieu of exact change.
Counterfeit
money
There is an immense problem of counterfeit money in
Ukraine. A good rule of thumb is to always accept only
newer larger bills (10's and 20's) since they are harder
to counterfeit. After a sale, any business or kiosk
will trade older bills for newer ones if asked.
Newer Ukrainian
bills have several features to assure that they are
not counterfeit:
- The
portraits, emblems, and some inscriptions are printed
in relief, and can be felt with the fingers. This
is especially prominent on the 50 Hryvna gold seal.
- Embedded
in every note is a metal strip, which says the denomination,
this is especially prominent on the 20 Hryvna bill.
- The
bills are printed on special paper with portrait
watermarks. These portraits can be seen when put
against the light. (this can be forged though)
- The
writing on the bills changes if you hold the money
at different angles.
Also pay
careful attention that you are not given torn or heavily
worn money, especially dollars, because many businesses
will not accept this.
LIST
of ATMs
Admiralsky Avenue 1
(Адмиралский
проспект) |
Photo Shop Fotomagazine (Фотомагазин)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
Akademeka Glushko Avenue 17
(Академика Глушко проспект ) |
Le-Gion (Легион)
Grocery Store Uni-versam (Универсам)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
Akademeka
Koroleva 120
(Академика Королева) |
Grocery Store Uni-versam (Универсам)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Deribasovskaya 13 (Дерибасовская) |
Irish Pub (under stairs)
(Ирландский паб)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Deribasovskaya 14 (Дерибасовская) |
UkrExim Bank ATM
(Corner Deribasovskaya and Ekaterininskaya) |
|
Deribasovskaya
16 (Дерибасовская) |
Morskoy Transportny
(Морський Транспортнйи) |
Deribasovskaya 24 (Дерибасовская)
(lowest exchange rate)
|
Galeria Vop-on-tsov Restaurant/Bar
(Бар-Галерея Воронцов)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Deribasovskaya 25 (Дерибасовская) |
Uker Bank (Укр банк) |
| Dobrovolskaya 72 (Добровольского) |
Zveozdy (stars) Movie Theater
(Кинотеатр "Звездный") Prevat Bank (Приват
Ванк) |
| Dobrovolskaya 112 (Добровольского) |
Severnehye Ryenok "Northern Bazaar"
(северный рынок) Nadra Bank (Надра Банк) |
| Ekaterininskaya 15/17 (Екатерининская) |
Club Pee-lot (Pee-lot Клуб)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
Generala Bocharova 30
(Генерала Бочарова)
|
Photoshop Kodak Express
(Фотомагазин "Кодак Экспресс")
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
Generala Bocharova 53
(Генерала Бочарова) |
Arlekino (Арлекино)
Grocery Store Uni-versam (Универсам)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Genuesskaya 1 (Генуэзская) |
Chas Peak Bar (Бар "час Пик")
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Kanatnaya 112 (Канатная) |
Nadra Bank (Надра Банк) |
| Mayakovskava 7 (Маяковского) |
Nadra Bank (Надра Банк) |
| Nikolaevskaya Doroga 299 (Николаевская дорога) |
Luzanovsky (Лузановский)
Grocery Store Uni-versam (Универсам)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
7 kilometers bazaar 7-й км Промрырок
Ovidiopolskaya (Овидиопольская) |
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Odariya 1 (Одария) |
Nadra Bank (Надра Банк) |
Polskaya 13 (Польская)
|
(Bowling Club) Боулинг клуб
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Primorsky 11 (Приморский Бульвар) |
Londonskaya (Лондонская) hotel;
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
Kimpinski Hotel
Primorskaya 6 (Приморская) |
Nadra Bank (Надра Банк) |
|
Primorskaya 6 (Приморская) |
Passenger Terminal of the Odessa
Sea Port
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Rekordnaya 23 (Рекордная) |
Grocery Store Uni-versam (Универсам)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Semaforny 4 (Семафорный) |
"In Srednefontanskoy" ("На Среднефонтанской")
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
| Troitskaya 50 (Троицкая) |
"Ogapt" (Огапт)
Nadra Bank (Надра Банк) |
| Varnenskaya 2 (Варненская) |
Grocery Store Uni-versam (Универсам)
Prevat Bank (Приват Ванк) |
LIST
OF BANKS
To withdraw money on a MasterCard or Visa (American
Express is not accepted throughout Odessa), or:
- if you
forgot your ATM card number or
- want
a normally 3% flat finance charge on Visa or MasterCard
Bankcards,
many of Odessa's banks offer cash withdrawal.
Not all
bank branches offer this service so it is better to
call ahead.
This service is also available at Londonskaya (Лондонская)
Hotel Primorsky Boulevard 11 (Приморский Бульвар),
24 hours a day, with a 3% service charge.
Listed
here are some of Odessa's banks:
|
Name
|
Address, head office
|
Telephone
|
Email and/or web page:
|
| Aval (Аваль) |
Sadovaya 10
(Садовая) |
26-78-11 |
|
Odessa bank
(Одесса Банк) |
Knyazjeskaya 32 (Княжеская)
|
30-51-01 |
odbnk@odtel.net |
Nadra Bank
(Надра Банк) |
Kosmonavtov 36 (Космонавтов) |
66-20-05 |
Office@unt.Odessa.ua
www.nadra.com.ua |
Morskoy Transportny bank
(Морской Транспортный Банк) |
Rishelevskaya 28 (Ришельевская) |
30-13-01 |
office@mtb.com.ua
www.mtb.com.ua |
| Ukrsots Bank (Укрсоц Банк) |
Primorskaya 49 (Приморская) |
22-45-27 |
upca@usb.odessa.ua
www.usb.odessa.ua
usb.com.ua |
| Imex bank (Имэксбанк) |
Shevchenko Avenue 8a (Шевченко проспект) |
68-49-00 |
imexnet@imex.Odessa.net
www.imex.odessa.net |
Western
Union prices and offices/kiosks in Odessa
This list is from the web page. This lists only Western
Union offices in the immediate center. More offices
are available on the Western Union web page:
www.westernunion.com
| Amount Transferred |
Service charge |
Amount Transferred |
Service charge |
|
Up to $50 |
$13
|
$300-$400 |
$34
|
| $50-$100 |
$15
|
$400-$500 |
$40
|
|
$100-$200 |
$22
|
$1000-$1500 |
$75
|
| $200-$300 |
$29
|
$2000-$2500 |
$110
|
|
Location |
Telephone |
Bank |
|
Airport Central |
347155 |
Aval Bank |
|
Bazarnaya Street 17 (Базарная) |
346282 |
Oschadbank |
|
Bazarnaya Street 64 (Базарная) |
7155074 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
Bolshaya Arnautskaya, 92/94
(Большая Арнаутская) |
2373346 |
Fui Bank |
|
Bunina Street 40 (Бунина) |
269684 |
Oschadbank |
|
Deribasovskaya Street 10 (Дерибасовская) |
348318 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
|
Dobrovolskogo Avenue 125 |
547056 |
Oschadbank |
|
Ekaterininskaya 4 (Екатерининская) |
2347362 |
Pravex-Bank |
|
Ekaterininskaya Street 31/33 (Екатерининская) |
241056 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
|
Ekaterininskaya Street,7 (Екатерининская) |
347437 |
MTB |
|
Ekaterininskaya Street 7 (Екатерининская) |
372924 |
Aval Bank |
|
Filatova Street 1 |
616074 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
|
Filatova Street 40 |
7772124 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
|
Fontanskaya Doroga Street 33 (Фонтанская
дорога) |
634251 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
Fontanskaya Doroga Street 2,
apartment 2 (Фонтанская дорога) |
633180 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
Frantsuzsky Blvd, 10
(Французский
Бульвар) |
2255338 |
Pivdenniy Bank |
Frantsuzsky Blvd, 49/51
(Французский
Бульвар) |
342360 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
|
Grecheskaya Street 15 (Греческая) |
7314081 |
Premierbank |
|
Grecheskaya Street 36 (Греческая) |
252998 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
|
Malinovskogo Street 16-A |
342359 |
Ukrainian Financial Group |
|
Primorskaya Street 6 (Приморская)
[Morvokzal] |
218099 |
Aval Bank |
|
Pushkinskaya Street 72 (Пушкинская) |
250059 |
Imexbank |
|
Rishelevskaya Street 12 (Ришельевская) |
222752 |
Oschadbank |
|
Sadovaya Street,10 (Садовая) |
347287 |
Aval Bank |
Shevchenko Avenue 8-A
(Шевченко
проспект) |
686595 |
Imexbank |
|
Sofievskaya Street, 32 (Софиевская) |
219488 |
Aval Bank |
|
