PrivatBank SMS Not Coming — How to Turn On SMS Notifications in Privat24
PrivatBank, Ukraine’s largest bank, is a master of innovation: it’s constantly updating and introducing something. On the one hand that’s great; on the other, as usual, users — that is, customers — suffer at first.
At some point I noticed that SMS notifications about card transactions had stopped coming. The minimum amount for a notification used to be 50 UAH; now it seems to be 100 UAH. But even a purchase of 101 UAH went through without an SMS.
Keeping track of money matters, especially since the SMS shows the card balance — worth knowing so you don’t end up embarrassed at a store checkout a couple of hryvnias short. I had to figure it out.
Why the SMS stopped coming
PrivatBank’s website says every card is automatically connected to SMS notifications for free. Here’s more about the limits and notification methods:
That’s how it worked for me for a long time: after a payment I got an SMS with the amount and the balance. Then the SMS disappeared. It seems to be connected with the launch of the Sender messenger and an update of the Privat24 mobile app.
By trial and error I found out that all transaction notifications now went to the Privat24 app on my phone (Android) instead of SMS. I rarely open the mobile Privat24, so that doesn’t work for me — I need ordinary SMS.
In the support online chat, the operator replied that this couldn’t be changed: messages would go to the app even if it was off. I deleted Privat24 from my phone — it didn’t help, there were still no SMS. Then a friend told me the notification mode can be switched in the web version of Privat24. I found it, switched it — and now everything’s fine 
How to turn on SMS notifications in Privat24
- Log in to the Privat24 website on a computer.
- Open All Services → Settings → Communication Management.
- Switch the notification method to SMS and save.
- Also check the card settings: My Accounts → the card you need (or each card in turn) → Card/Account Management.
Tick the boxes you need if they aren’t ticked, and save. That’s it — payment SMS will come again, as before.
If the SMS still don’t come
- The amount is below the limit. An SMS is sent only for transactions above the minimum amount (currently 100 UAH) — small purchases are visible only in the app.
- “App with SMS duplication” mode. Readers found an option in the same settings where the notification first goes to Privat24 and, if it isn’t delivered within a few minutes, is duplicated by SMS. A compromise if you do keep the app installed.
- Login or payment code SMS don’t arrive. Sometimes the code shows up in the Privat24 app itself — check there. If that doesn’t help, write to the support chat.
- You’re abroad. Bank SMS to a foreign number may not get through. One reader was helped by linking Privat24 to a local number and asking the bank’s support to check delivery to that number.