"Why does a bank need a university?" – Igor Tykhonov (Creditwest Bank Ukraine) on investing in education and partnering with American University Kyiv
Why does business invest in education, and why are banks betting on finance students?
In the new episode of Balcony Talks, our students talked with Igor Tykhonov, Chairman of the Board at CREDITWEST Bank (Ukraine). The conversation was packed – from boutique banking to what "big money" will look like in the Ukrainian economy five years from now.
We covered the most exciting topics:
- Why big business chooses personal banking over just another app
- How to enter the Turkish market – and whether foreign investors are ready to invest during wartime
- Three sectors of the economy where the "big money" will be in 5 years
- Why Creditwest Bank is investing in education together with AUK
- What is the main hard skill of a financier in 2026
We especially recommend watching the final part - the answer to the question of where you should invest 80% of your free time if you are building a career in finance.
We are very grateful to Igor Tykhonov for the frank conversation and insights, and to our hosts – Nika Trubnikova and Denys Savchuk, 2nd-year students of the Global Finance program – for the great questions and dialogue!
Watch the full episode here
