5 Years of IBNS Ukraine: A Look Back and Ahead. Interview with Serhiy Trushyn
Five years ago, Ukraine officially joined the large family of the International Bank Note Society (IBNS). This bold step opened the doors of the global community to Ukrainian banknote collectors. How was the Ukrainian IBNS chapter established? What challenges had to be overcome? Were the expectations met?
We spoke with Serhiy Trushyn, the founder and first President of IBNS Ukraine, who shared the story of the chapter’s creation, its greatest achievements, and the challenges the team faced over the years.
Looking back at the founding moment: What was your main motivation for creating the Ukrainian IBNS chapter? Was it a personal mission, a professional challenge, or something bigger?
The idea of establishing a Ukrainian IBNS chapter came to me through my interactions with collectors from different countries. At that time, I was an ordinary IBNS member, but after 20 years of experience, I had built strong connections and exchanged banknotes with collectors worldwide. I saw how friendly and open-minded people were, united by a common passion—sharing banknotes, knowledge, and opportunities to expand their collections.
I wanted to introduce Ukrainian collectors to their foreign colleagues and, at the same time, showcase Ukraine to the world. IBNS provides such an opportunity, and creating a regional chapter is the best way to build a strong bridge between the local community and the international numismatic scene.
Five years ago, you had a vision for the development of the chapter. How did reality match your expectations? Were you able to accomplish what you set out to do?
When the Ukrainian IBNS chapter was first created, there were only six members from Ukraine, including myself. That was enough for registration, but the main task was to attract new participants. It was crucial that people joined IBNS consciously, without pressure or persuasion. Every new member had to come to this decision independently.
Therefore, the chapter was built as a living community offering engaging events, numismatic research, opportunities to acquire banknotes at favorable prices, and, most importantly, knowledge and experience exchange.
However, reality turned out to be more complex. For many Ukrainian collectors, the IBNS membership fee of €32 was a significant barrier.
To motivate people, we had to offer them value that far exceeded this amount. It required daily, meticulous work to build trust in the chapter. The growth in membership was slower than I had hoped, but over five years under my leadership, our group expanded to 22 members. I am sincerely grateful to each of them for their trust and contributions to the development of our IBNS community.
What moment or event over these years made you feel the most proud of the chapter? What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The greatest value of any community is its people. That’s why I tried to organize in-person meetings as often as possible, filling them with genuine enthusiasm. We mostly gathered at the Kyiv International Collectors’ Meeting, where we met at the event, traded, exchanged banknotes, and made purchases. We shared the excitement of successful deals, recorded interviews, and took photos for magazines. Afterward, we continued our conversations in cafés or restaurants, discussing plans and ideas. At one of these meetings, I presented an annual report on the chapter’s activities—it was filled with various events. We regularly held quizzes with prizes, engaging collectors in the process and introducing them to IBNS through interactive learning.
One of my proudest moments was in 2023 when we organized the “Best Commemorative Banknote” competition and successfully brought it to the international level. The winning banknote was the Ukrainian 20-hryvnia commemorative note. We officially visited the National Bank of Ukraine to present them with the winner’s diploma. That moment exceeded my expectations and proved what heights can be reached through teamwork.
What was the most challenging or even disappointing part of the journey? Were there moments when you wanted to quit?
The biggest challenge was overcoming the unique mindset of Ukrainian society. Many people approach new initiatives with skepticism, fearing hidden conditions, obligations, or direct sales tactics. A common question was: Is this really fair?
However, our goal was never to sell anything or collect fees. Our only motivation was to create a community based on trust, a friendly atmosphere, and mutual support. Another crucial aspect was the importance of English proficiency. This skill significantly expands opportunities within IBNS and opens new paths to success. I believe we managed to overcome these difficulties and form a strong team of like-minded individuals.
Has your vision of the Ukrainian IBNS chapter’s role changed over the years?
A regional IBNS chapter is like a window to the world—it’s essential to keep it open. We faced serious challenges, including the pandemic and wartime conditions. These were events we could not foresee or prepare for. However, we endured them with dignity, largely thanks to the support of collectors from different countries.
How would you like to see the chapter develop in the future?
I sincerely hope our chapter continues to grow — not just in numbers but in quality. It is especially important to involve young people in the community. Their energy, enthusiasm, and fresh ideas can make it even more vibrant and dynamic.
I hope the initiatives I started will continue to develop and strengthen IBNS’s presence in Ukraine. And that through these projects, more and more people will want to join our community.
Photo:
Serhiy Trushyn, IBNS Life Member #259,
Founder of the Ukrainian IBNS Chapter,
now serves as Director of IBNS Region 5
