Household Deposits and Deposit Guarantee Schemes During Crises in Ukraine

B a c k g r o u n d . Ensuring the stability of the banking system remains a key challenge during periods of economic and geopolitical crises. In Ukraine, the deposit guarantee system consists of both explicit and implicit components. While the explicit mechanism is represented by the Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF), the implicit component reflects household trust in the state's role in protecting deposits, especially during force majeure events. This study aims to evaluate deposit stability in Ukrainian banks during crises. M e t h o d s . The study applies descriptive statistical analysis of deposit trends disaggregated by bank ownership (stateowned, foreign, private) and deposit currency (national vs. foreign) from 2013 to 2024. The analysis includes chain growth rates and deposit structure indicators (demand vs. time deposits) during key crisis phases: the 2014 military aggression, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2022 full-scale invasion. R e s u l t s . During the analyzed period, the structure of household deposits underwent significant transformations. First, the ratio between time deposits and demand deposits in the national currency declined from 2.63 to 0.52, while in foreign currency it dropped from 6.77 to 0.56. Second, households increasingly favored government-owned banks, while foreign banks retained a moderate level of trust and private banks showed greater volatility. Both explicit and implicit deposit guarantees played a role in maintaining depositor confidence. However, during major shocks, the implicit guarantee system proved particularly influential. C o n c l u s i o n s . In Ukraine, deposit analysis must consistently account for the currency structure due to persistent devaluation risks and the varying levels of depositor trust associated with different forms of bank ownership. A comprehensive understanding of deposit behavior under stress requires evaluating both explicit and implicit protection. While the DGF offers a solid foundation, it must be supported by credible implicit guarantees and effective crisis management frameworks.