FUIB – responsible employer. In 2021, FUIB provided new jobs to 2,474 Ukrainians, and in 2022 - to 857. At the end of 2021, the bank employed 8,856 people, at the end of 2022 - 6,828 employees. During 2022, the year of war, the team shrank by 23%. The main reason for the reduction was voluntary resignation due to a change of residence, including moving abroad.  

The bank's employees include economists and financiers, people of intellectual and creative professions, people who work in offices, branches and sales outlets. Employees are our bank's main asset, the key to sustainable development of the financial institution.

FUIB adheres to the high standards in the provision of decent and safe working conditions for employees and development of their professional skills. The First Ukrainian carries out its activities, observing the principles of conscientious working practices and respect human rights.

Equal rights and opportunities

A Collective Agreement which guarantees the protection of the rights and interests of each FUIB employee is in effect in the bank. Everyone has equal rights and opportunities regardless of gender, race, age, place of residence, religion and political beliefs.

At the end of 2021, the bank employed 6,628 women and 2,228 men (total number 8,856). FUIB has 664 (62%) female managers and 400 (38%) male managers. Among the managers of the bank’s structural divisions, there are 67 (40%) women, 101 (60%) men. There are 3 (30%) women and 7 (70%) men in the Management Board.

In 2022, the bank employed 5,021 women and 1,807 men (total number 6,828), 743 female managers (68%), 354 male managers (32%). Among the managers of the bank’s structural divisions, there are 69 (40%) women and 102 (60%) men. There are 3 (30%) women and 7 (70%) men in the Bank’s Management Board.

In 2021, 333 people with disabilities worked at FUIB, and 856 employees were on maternity leave. There are 4,462 young people under 35 in the bank, 3,613 people over 35 years old, and 781 colleagues over 50 years old. In 2022, the bank employed 2,422 people under 35, 3,377 people over 35, 1,029 people over 50, 324 people with disabilities, and 1,033 colleagues were on maternity leave. In 2021-2022, the youngest age of FUIB employees was 18-19 years.

In 2021, 5,040 employees were insured under the voluntary employee health insurance program (a 19% increase over the year), and 414 colleagues were provided with accident insurance. In 2022, 5,345 employees were insured under the voluntary medical insurance program and 368 colleagues were insured under the accident insurance program.

The bank's social package also includes financial support in case of serious medical treatment of employees (inpatient treatment, surgery, oncology), treatment of children and death of close relatives, and family support in case of death of an employee. In 2021, 827 employees received financial assistance totaling UAH 4.4 million.

In 2022, due to the war, the bank decided to fully support its employees. Some of the bank's employees worked in dangerous regions and received a salary supplement. The bank provided financial assistance to employees in case of loss or damage to their homes, injury of employees and death of their family members as a result of hostilities, and in case of families leaving the occupied territories. In 2022, the bank invested over UAH 139 million in employee support. More than 2,700 colleagues received assistance.

Labor protection

In 2021-2022, FUIB has traditionally invested in creating safe, healthy and comfortable working conditions.

In 2021, the bank's occupational health and safety service checked for compliance with occupational health and safety requirements at regional centers, units where vehicles and equipment are operated, and where high-risk work is carried out. Measures were taken to improve the level of employee safety, fire safety, accident and emergency prevention, and their implementation was monitored.

For employees of the head office and regional centers that manage road transport, the bank funded an extended medical examination. FUIB's subdivisions conducted laboratory tests of workplaces for compliance with the law; tests for compliance of ladders, power tools, electrical protective equipment; measurements of insulation resistance, grounding of the power grid and equipment; maintenance of equipment. Health and safety briefings, training and knowledge testing of employees were conducted.

In 2022, an e-course on occupational health and safety was created for employees working remotely. Occupational health and fire safety instructions were updated. In connection with emergency power outages in the departments, briefings on occupational health and safety, safe operation of generators, as well as training in training centers on electrical safety, fire safety, and general occupational health and safety were held with the persons responsible for the safe operation of the installed generators.

Pre-trip, initial and periodic medical examinations of drivers were conducted at medical facilities. Premises and buildings were provided with fire extinguishers, their maintenance, and fire hydrants and fire hoses were serviced. The compliance of evacuation routes and exits, as well as emergency warning systems, was checked. Due to the war, medical tactical kits were purchased for the bank's units to stop bleeding and provide medical care in case of injuries. 

One industrial accident was registered in both 2021 and 2022.

FUIB's investments in labor protection and safety of employees in 2021 amounted to more than UAH 16,5 million, in 2022 amounted to more than UAH 7,9 million.

Motivating and supporting staff

FUIB annually revises salaries. In 2021, the salaries of 7,897 employees were revised based on: bank-wide salary increase, minimum wage increase in January and December 2021, Career Development Program, transfer to another unit. As of 01.01.2022, the average salary in the bank amounted to UAH 26,199, as of 01.01.2023 - UAH 31,212 (an increase of 19%).

In 2021, FUIB had 48 permanent motivational programs, including 19 with monthly bonus payments and 29 with quarterly bonuses. Moreover, for additional employee motivation, more than 20 one-time motivational programs were in place. As of the beginning of 2022, FUIB had 50 motivational systems in place. During the year, motivational programs were suspended, and by the end of the year, 46 motivational programs (92%) were renewed.       

Career development programs for various categories of staff have been approved and are in place at First Ukrainian International Bank. In 2021, 2,089 people (+85% over the year) were promoted. In 2022, 778 people were promoted.

FUIB employees are granted all types of vacations in accordance with the current labor legislation. For the period of any vacation, the employee retains his or her position and salary.

FUIB as employer creates environment for evolving and opportunities for employees of different directions and levels of positions. FUIB's Career Website  is a platform for communication with job seekers for various vacancies.  In 2021, FUIB was included in the rating of 50 Best Employers of Ukraine 2020 according to Forbes Ukraine magazine, taking the 11th position in the list. In 2022, FUIB retained its place in the TOP-50 best employers and took the first position among 5 banks.

The bank promptly informs employees about work and vital issues through all internal communication channels (Pumb in touch Telegram channel, corporate portal, Pulse of the Bank weekly newsletter and Yammer corporate social network). With the help of video messages from the bank's top managers, colleagues feel supported by management and receive answers to their questions. The bank also has an HR chatbot that helps employees get answers to their most pressing questions. During the war, the chatbot was used by volunteers to process more than 500 requests from colleagues (travel abroad, providing housing for a colleague, vacancies for displaced persons, support for mobilized people, etc.)

Every year, the bank holds a competition for the Best Employee of the Year, the winners of which go on an exciting trip abroad or receive a financial reward. The bank also implements an inspirational project for employees called Client Is My Inspiration. The team-building FUIB Football Tournament had to be postponed to the post-quarantine and post-war period. 

FUIB is happy to provide development opportunities for young people without work experience. It offers paid training and in-house employment. In 2021, the team implemented a new free educational project - the Analytics Academy for Ukrainian students and graduates of technical universities. The project aroused great interest among students. Over 2,000 entry applications were submitted. The workshops were conducted by mentors - FUIB's leading experts in various fields of analytics, as well as professors of the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE). In one month, students gained practical skills in working with databases based on real cases with depersonalized data. 80 participants completed the pilot course and received the relevant certificates; 19 of them were invited to work in FUIB. It is planned to continue the project after the war.

In February 2021, FUIB signed the Pact for Youth - 2025. The bank has joined forces with other companies, the state and educational organizations to create internship programs and jobs to start careers of young people. The document also aims to facilitate the employment of university graduates by signatories and provide mentoring support for students. In 2021, FUIB provided jobs to 370 young specialists with no work experience. In 2022 it was 26 young specialists. The war slightly suspended plans for internships and employment for young people, but they will be resumed after the war.

In 2021, the bank introduced the Psychological Support Service for 3,000 employees for the first time. Since 2022, absolutely all employees have had access to the Service. At the beginning of the war, the service ceased to operate, but in the 4th quarter of 2022, cooperation with Wellbeing was resumed to provide a corporate psychological support service to FUIB employees. In the 4th quarter, employees received 104 individual psychological counseling sessions and everyone joined the "Strong Together" psychological support groups, which are held daily on working days and where they can discuss their problems, get answers from a specialist, and express themselves through helping others.

140 employees from the branches in the temporarily occupied territories and from the areas of active hostilities were employed in other divisions of the bank. During the war, more than 100 employees have been retrained and are now working in other divisions of the bank.

In addition, in November 2022, the bank established a Mutual Aid Fund. In November and December, 6 employees who found themselves in difficult life circumstances received financial assistance in the amount of UAH 210,000.

FUIB constantly studies the experience of employees in the bank. In 2021, eNPS, the level of employee loyalty, increased by 28% compared to 2020 (69%). In 2022, the eNPS level remained high, given the difficult situation - 66%. During the survey, colleagues noted that the bank has effectively responded to the challenges of wartime and made a significant contribution to supporting Ukrainian society. The bank supports its employees informationally, financially, motivationally and emotionally.

Developing and training staff

​In 2021, the online format prevailed in training, which allowed us to reach many more employees with training activities. The number of trainings held and those who completed the training more than tripled compared to the previous year. 1,500 employees attended 3,113 external courses, trainings and conferences. The bank's staff and internal trainers conducted 2,190 internal trainings, attended by 5,450 employees. Distance learning in various areas of activity was completed by 100% of the staff.

Agile became one of the most important areas of training in 2021. Training was conducted as part of the Chapter Leads Development Program for Product Owners. Regular webinars on the basics of Agile were open to all bank employees. More than 350 managers from various departments of the bank improved their management competencies at the trainings of the Management School Management Development Program. As part of the updated Branch Management School development program, 200 managers attended 10 webinars on various management skills. 50 heads of departments and divisions took part in the MiniMBA course, where they gained in-depth skills and knowledge of risk management, leadership and financial management.

In 2021, FUIB continued to support managers in the process of adaptation of new employees. We launched an Adaptation chatbot where new employees can get information about the bank and send their questions to get a prompt response. The internal Speaking club continued its work, where bank employees could practice their English communication skills.

Even during the war, the bank did not stop developing its team. In 2022, employees were trained on 248 unique topics. 4,351 employees attended one or more trainings, the total number of participants in the training events was 23,230, i.e. every employee attended an average of 5 training events of the bank.

FUIB trained the teams of its branch network in first aid. The training program was completed by 22 training groups (357 branch employees) in 10 cities of Ukraine.  As part of the course, professional instructors of the control and rescue service "Pivnich" taught our colleagues the theory and helped them to practice their skills according to the NATO protocol - M.A.R.C.H.

The support program "FUIB, keep going!" support program includes the eponymous Wewillsurvive_fuib Telegram channel, as well as webinars and trainings from external experts. The Telegram channel publishes useful information and advice from psychologists, as well as analytical information (news and forecasts from Ukrainian and foreign experts, economists, political scientists, etc.) The channel was joined by 1,251 colleagues. 25 webinars were held with a total of 3,929 participants, discussing topical issues of psychological support, gaining skills in remote and crisis management, emotional literacy, etc.

We initiated the Speak Ukrainian program to support our colleagues who have consciously decided to switch to Ukrainian. The Telegram channel Speak_ukrainian publishes useful information, Ukrainian lessons, tips and interesting facts. The channel has over 862 subscribers and is highly appreciated by colleagues. A series of online meetings called "Live Talk" is held, where people who have experience of switching to Ukrainian share tips and tricks, interesting, funny (and not so funny) incidents along the way, and inspire by own example. In addition to our colleagues, external speakers Yunona Lototska, Irma Vitovska, Sashko Lirnyk, Vache Davtyan, Orysia Demska, and others came to the live conversations and shared their experiences. The "Speak Ukrainian" program won the HR Brand 2022 Award in the "Recognition of the Professional Jury" nomination.

In December 2022, FUIB has joined the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska called "Self-Help Plus" - a group stress management course developed by the WHO for adults who have suffered from extremely unfavorable circumstances. The skills to regulate own mental state that employees will learn in this course will help them use self-help approaches to overcome stress.

The 'Svii Do Svoho Po Svoie' knowledge exchange program, which was previously called Knowledge Sharing, continued. FUIB employees are involved as speakers who share useful information and skills in working with programs and applications. 19 webinars were held with a total number 5,290 participants covering such relevant topics as: Life with LEAN in a time of war; artificial intelligence and Data Science; security of corporate devices in the face of modern threats; cyber hygiene and cyber warfare, etc.

Leadership in Time of War series of webinars was launched for managers. 26 webinars were held with such speakers as: Valerii Pekar, Erik Naiman, Maryna Taran, Nataliia Baikalova, and others. They talked about the war for independence, the economy of Ukraine after the war, reactions and actions in a border crisis situation, empathic leadership in times of crisis, emotional exhaustion and burnout, etc.

In November and December, FUIB, together with DGM, Israel, implemented the Leaders Development Sessions program, in which managers listened to experts from various business segments from Israel and learned how Israel overcame similar difficulties during the war.

The Management School continued its work, with 11 trainings of the first and second modules: basic management skills and adult leadership and teamwork. At the online meetings of FUIB Speaking Club at different levels, colleagues are actively improving their English speaking skills.

FUIB's investments in employee development and training in 2021 amounted to UAH 17 million. In 2022, the bank invested more than UAH 6.9 million in development and training - many training programs were implemented on a volunteer basis.