Individuals in Ukraine sold $261 million more to banks in the first two months of 2016 then they bought, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Valeriya Gontareva has said.

"The population continues selling more currency to banks, sales exceed purchases. In 2015, the net purchases of foreign currency by banks from households were about $1.5 billion, and in January-February 2016, banks bought $261 million more from individuals then they sold," she said in Kyiv on Thursday.

As was reported, the amount of foreign currency cash sales by Ukrainians through official currency exchange booths in January 2016 exceeded purchases by $114.8 million.

Foreign currency purchases in January 2016 were 33.8% down on December 2015, to $39.5 million, Sales fell by 14.5%, to $154.2 million.

In general, last year sales of foreign currency by Ukrainians to banks were $1.55 billion more than purchases. In 2014, purchases exceeded sales by $2.41 billion: $5.61 billion was sold, while $8.02 billion was bought.

In 2013, foreign currency cash purchases also exceeded sales – the difference was $2.88 billion. In particular, purchases were estimated at $16.33 billion, while sales totaled $19.21 billion.