Support for vulnerable borrowers extended until September 2027
Kazakhstan has extended additional assistance to socially vulnerable borrowers under its mortgage refinancing program until September 1, 2027.
Source: t.me/finregkzMarket feed
Everything that happens
Every event in Central Asia's fintech market — briefly, with a link to the source. Analysis and explainers are in our news.
October 13
October 12
NBK Anti-Fraud Center blocks 117 billion tenge in transactions over two years
The National Bank of Kazakhstan's Anti-Fraud Center blocked suspicious transactions totaling **117 billion tenge** and recorded 180,000 suspicious incidents over two years.
Source: lsm.kzOctober 9
Otbasy Bank waives penalties after app outage
Otbasy Bank has cancelled overdue statuses and late fees that hit customers due to technical glitches on October 8, when loan payments failed to process on time.
Source: kz.kursiv.mediaNGDEM Global Limited joins DFA and digital assets platform on KASE
NGDEM Global Limited has become a new participant in the digital financial assets and digital assets platform of the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.
Source: t.me/KASEofficialKazakhstan extends mortgage refinancing program to September 2027
Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market has extended its distressed mortgage refinancing program by one year and expanded eligibility to include socially vulnerable borrowers who took out loans between 2021 and 2024.
Source: tengrinews.kzKaspi.kz unveils Kasper AI assistant at Digital Bridge 2026 in Astana
Kazakh fintech company Kaspi.kz has introduced Kasper, an AI assistant for Kaspi Magazin, at the Digital Bridge 2026 international forum in Astana.
Source: t.me/kaspikzBCC Excludes #BusinessCredit Card from Card Limit
Bank CenterCredit announced that the #BusinessCredit corporate card does not count toward the four-card limit per customer.
Source: bcc.kzOctober 8
Otbasy Bank Suspends Mortgage Refinancing Loans Until October 23
Kazakhstan's Otbasy Bank has temporarily stopped issuing loans to pay off mortgage debt at other banks and financial institutions through October 23, 2026.
Source: inbusiness.kzState Annuity Company launches online service for workplace accident insurance
Kazakhstan's State Annuity Company has launched an online service enabling employers to independently take out mandatory workplace accident insurance without visiting an office.
Source: profit.kzBereke Bank Obtains Universal Banking License
On October 7, 2026, Kazakhstan's Bereke Bank obtained universal banking license No. 1.1.914.151, authorizing it to issue interbank loans, guarantees, and sureties.
Source: gov.kzRecommended Rate on Foreign Currency Deposits Over 12 Months Rises to 2.5% per Annum
Starting October 1, 2026, Kazakhstan raised the recommended maximum rate on foreign currency savings deposits with terms over 12 months from 1% to **2.5% per annum**.
Source: kapital.kzKazakhstan's regulator details exceptions to the voluntary credit freeze
Kazakhstan's financial regulator has clarified the conditions under which banks and microfinance organizations can issue loans to clients who set a voluntary borrowing ban via the "Stop-Credit" service.
Source: gov.kz59.7% of Uzbekistan's Population Holds Financial Accounts, Trailing Neighbors
According to the World Bank's Global Findex 2025, 59.7% of Uzbekistan's population aged 15 and older held a financial account in 2025, compared with 87% in Kazakhstan, 72.3% in Kyrgyzstan, and 54.5% in Tajikistan.
Source: ranking.kzAssets of Kazakhstan's Islamic Banks Surge 33-Fold in 16 Years
In August 2026, assets of Kazakhstan's Islamic banks reached **315.3 billion tenge** compared to 9.6 billion tenge in August 2010, yet their share in the banking sector remains at 0.42%.
Source: ranking.kzOctober 7
FTSE Russell upgrades Kazakhstan market rating across four quality criteria
Following its September review, FTSE Russell upgraded Kazakhstan across four market quality criteria, with no indicators downgraded.
Source: t.me/KASEofficialFTSE Russell Upgrades Kazakhstan Market Ratings Across Four Criteria
Following its September review, FTSE Russell upgraded Kazakhstan's ratings across four market quality criteria, with no downgrades recorded.
Source: t.me/KASEofficialAltyn Bank launches "Altyn Uya" mortgage program with 20% minimum down payment
Altyn Bank has introduced its new "Altyn Uya" mortgage program featuring a fixed rate between 7% and 16% per annum and a down payment starting at 20% of the property value.
Source: kapital.kzSmart Data Finance helps Kazakh tax authorities spot income and spending discrepancies
The Smart Data Finance system gathers information on citizens' real estate, cars, and other assets from 80 sources to detect mismatches between declared income and spending.
Source: lsm.kzHalyk Bank to raise fee on phone number transfers to other Kazakh banks
Starting November 27, 2026, Halyk Bank will raise the fee for transfers by phone number to cards of other Kazakh banks from 200 to **250 tenge**.
Source: digitalbusiness.kzAIFC adds digital assets to Investment Tax Residency Programme
The Astana International Financial Centre has expanded its partnership with Bybit Kazakhstan and Binance Kazakhstan, adding digital assets to the Investment Tax Residency Programme (ITRP).
Source: aifc.kzHalyk Finance completes technical unit split across three mutual funds
JSC Halyk Finance executed a technical unit split on October 5, 2026, across three interval mutual funds: Dollar Bonds (1:1000 split), Global Equities (1:100), and Bolashaq – Shares of the Future (1:10).
Source: halykfinance.kzOctober 6
Halyk Bank mobile app goes down under heavy traffic
According to profit.kz, clients of Kazakhstan's Halyk Bank faced technical issues logging into the mobile app on October 6, with the system displaying a notice of temporary access restrictions due to heavy load.
Source: profit.kzKASE Unveils Architecture for Solana-Based Digital Asset Trading Platform
Kazakhstani exchange KASE presented its Digital Assets Platform (DAP) at Solana Summit Singapore to support digital financial instruments from Kazakhstani issuers on the Solana blockchain.
Source: t.me/KASEofficialCorporate deposits in Kazakh banks drop 3.9%
Corporate deposits in Kazakh banks fell 3.9% in August to **21.6 trillion tenge**, according to the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market.
Source: kapital.kzNew SME loan issuance in Kazakhstan grows 47.3% year-on-year
In August 2026, Kazakhstani banks issued new loans to SMEs whose volume grew by 47.3% year-on-year, according to the Agency for Regulation and Business Financing.
Source: kapital.kzKazakh bank profits drop 13.6% in first eight months of the year
Net profit at Kazakhstan’s banks reached **1.6 trillion tenge** since the start of 2026, down 13.6% compared to the same period in 2025.
Source: kapital.kzConsumer protection agency reviews 14.7k complaints over nine months
Kazakhstan's financial consumer protection agency reviewed **14.7 thousand complaints** between the start of the year and September 1, 2026.
Source: t.me/finregkzThirteen minority shareholders exit Solva Group
Kazakh fintech company Solva Group announced the exit of 13 minority shareholders, whose stakes were transferred to the private company AG Holding Ltd.
Source: kapital.kzOctober 5
Students in Semey drawn into cash-out scheme using drop cards
Kazakhstan's Financial Monitoring Agency has uncovered a money laundering scheme involving local university students who used their bank cards to receive and transfer funds.
Source: kapital.kzWorld Bank to Provide Kazakhstan with $75M for AI and Startup Development
The World Bank will provide Kazakhstan with a **$75 million** (11.9 billion yen) loan to implement the ALEM project for human capital development in artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and markets.
Source: kapital.kzRemittances from Kazakhstan abroad halved in August
The volume of cross-border money transfers via money transfer systems in Kazakhstan dropped from 56.4 billion tenge in July to **27.9 billion tenge** in August, marking the lowest figure since April 2020.
Source: ranking.kzKazakhstan services PMI stands at 51.4 in September
Freedom Holding Corp published Kazakhstan's services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September, which stood at **51.4 points** down from 51.9 in August, pointing to marginal growth in activity as momentum slowed.
Source: t.me/FREEDOMFINANCEKAZAKHSTANQIC and Dasco Capital Launch $50 Million Tolqyn AI Venture Fund
Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC), a subsidiary of the Baiterek holding, and Dasco Capital have signed a strategic partnership agreement to establish the Tolqyn AI Venture Fund with a target size of **$50 million**.
Source: kapital.kzKazakhstani patients receive 502.6m tenge over two years for medical malpractice damages
According to kapital.kz citing the Ministry of Health, **502.6 million tenge** in insurance payouts has been disbursed to patients and their families in Kazakhstan under mandatory medical malpractice liability insurance in the two years since the law took effect in October 2024.
Source: kapital.kzOctober 4
Kaspi.kz sets 0.95% fee on transfers to other banks
Kaspi.kz charges a fee of **0.95%** on transfers from Kaspi Gold cards to accounts at other Kazakh banks, with a 200 tenge minimum.
Source: digitalbusiness.kzOctober 3
Kaspi.kz cuts Savings Deposit rate from 19% to 18% APR
Starting October 2, 2026, Kazakhstan's Kaspi.kz changed the terms for its tenge Kaspi Savings Deposit, cutting the annual effective rate from 19% to **18% per year**, while the nominal rate fell from 17.52% to 16.67%.
Source: digitalbusiness.kzFreedom rolls out AI assistant for investments, insurance, and travel
Freedom Holding Corp. is developing an AI agent for its superapp that will help Kazakhstanis select investment options, insurance, tours, flights, and visas, CEO Timur Turlov said.
Source: kz.kursiv.mediaOctober 2
JSC Commercial Bank BNK Obtains Universal Banking License
The Agency has granted JSC Commercial Bank BNK a universal banking license authorizing interbank lending, guarantees, and sureties.
Source: gov.kzSofreh Capital plans to open office in Kazakhstan
American venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, founder of Sofreh Capital, has announced plans to open a company office in Kazakhstan and relocate part of its operations to the country.
Source: kapital.kzKazakhstan's balance of payments posts $2.4B surplus in first half of 2026
In the first half of 2026, Kazakhstan's current account ran a surplus of **$2.4 billion**, reversing a $3.6 billion deficit from the same period in 2025.
Source: nationalbank.kz