Bereke 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.kzMarket 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 8
Kazakhstan'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.kzOctober 7
Smart 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.kzNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan tightens transaction monitoring rules
On October 1, the Board of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic adopted Resolution No. 2026-P-12/48-2-(NPA) to strengthen measures mitigating terrorist financing and money laundering risks in banking operations.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsOctober 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.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/finregkzHalf of E-Commerce Complaints in Uzbekistan Involve Uzum
According to spot.uz, Uzbekistan's Competition Committee received 1,230 e-commerce complaints in the first nine months of 2026, with over half targeting the Uzum ecosystem.
Source: spot.uzNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan suspends license of Gimex exchange bureau
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic suspended the license of the Gimex LLC exchange bureau for 10 days for legal violations.
Source: cbd.minjust.gov.kgOctober 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.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.kzCentral Bank of Uzbekistan warns banks over illegal restrictions on depositor rights
According to the Telegram channel @centralbankuzbekistan, the Central Bank identified terms in commercial banks' deposit agreements that restrict depositors' right to reclaim their funds.
Source: t.me/centralbankuzbekistanOctober 2
NBU Secures PCI DSS Certification
JSC National Bank of Uzbekistan (NBU) has completed a certification audit verifying compliance with the international Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.
Source: nbu.uzJSC 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.kzUzbekistan to allow pension payouts to digital wallets starting April 2027
Starting April 2027, pension payments in Uzbekistan can be credited to an e-wallet in a bank's mobile app rather than just to a bank card, according to a presidential decree dated September 28.
Source: gazeta.uzMicrocredit agency in Kyrgyzstan liquidated
At an extraordinary meeting of the supervisory board on August 13, 2026, a decision was made to voluntarily liquidate the Public Foundation 'Microcredit Agency 'Toguz-Toro District Development Fund'.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsOctober 1
Agency to introduce questionnaires for online loans from October 1
Starting October 1, 2026, Kazakhstan's financial regulator has mandated banks and microfinance organizations to survey borrowers when issuing unsecured online consumer loans.
Source: t.me/finregkzNational Bank postpones National Fund FX mirroring amid currency surplus
According to kapital.kz, the National Bank of Kazakhstan postponed its September mirroring operations with the National Fund worth $200–300 million due to an excess supply of foreign currency in the market.
Source: kapital.kzAgency reminds borrowers that loan obligations remain even if MFO shuts down
Kazakhstan's financial regulator clarified that the closure of a microfinance organization does not release borrowers from their microloan obligations.
Source: t.me/finregkzNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan suspends licenses of two foreign exchange offices
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has suspended the licenses of foreign exchange offices Lex Finance and Alinur KG for regulatory violations.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsSeptember 30
National Bank of Kyrgyzstan fines credit union 55,000 soms
The Issyk-Kul regional department of the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan has fined a credit union **55,000 soms** for violating legislation and regulatory requirements.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsParliament Ratifies Kazakhstan-Qatar Crime-Fighting Agreement
According to kapital.kz, Kazakhstan's parliament passed a bill across two readings ratifying an intergovernmental agreement with Qatar on cooperation in combating crime.
Source: kapital.kzSeptember 29
Russia bans taking over 1M rubles in cash to Uzbekistan and CIS countries
According to spot.uz, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree banning the export of cash rubles exceeding **1 million rubles** to Uzbekistan, EAEU countries, and several other states in the region.
Source: spot.uzCentras Life Obtains Life Insurance License in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market has issued a life insurance license with an additional voluntary class to Centras Life Insurance Company JSC.
Source: gov.kzAFSA releases review findings on fund managers
The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) has published findings from a thematic review of AIFC participants authorised to manage collective investment schemes, along with a letter outlining supervisory expectations.
Source: afsa.aifc.kzUzbekistan to let formally employed citizens pay social tax for non-working relatives
According to spot.uz, the President of Uzbekistan has signed a decree introducing new pension services, allowing formally employed individuals to voluntarily pay a monthly social tax of **12% of the minimum wage** starting January 1, 2027, to build pension entitlement for non-working family members.
Source: spot.uzAFSA warns of scam impersonating Investlink Ltd
The Astana Financial Services Authority has identified a Telegram channel impersonating Kazakhstani firm Investlink Ltd and using its license without permission.
Source: afsa.aifc.kzSeptember 28
NAPP and Uzbekistan Prosecutor's Office update internal control rules for crypto-assets
Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General's Office have amended the internal control rules for crypto-asset service providers.
Source: t.me/napp_uzNational Bank warns of two-stage scam posing as couriers and eGov
According to Kapital.kz, the National Bank of Kazakhstan has issued a warning about a new phone scam where fraudsters first elicit SMS codes under the pretext of parcel delivery, then call claiming to represent eGov and the National Bank to report an account breach.
Source: kapital.kzSeptember 24
Bluestone Financial Group voluntarily surrenders its trust management license in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan's National Agency for Perspective Projects has revoked Bluestone Financial Group Inc's license to act as an investment asset trust manager in the securities market following its voluntary request.
Source: t.me/napp_uzSeptember 23
ARDFM drafts new rules for collective settlement of overdue loans
Kazakhstan's Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market has drafted rules allowing borrowers with overdue debts across multiple lenders to settle them via the unified Finkelisim.kz platform, which has been operational since July 1, 2026.
Source: kapital.kzCentral Bank of Azerbaijan Holds Refinancing Rate at 6.5%
According to inbusiness.kz, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan left its refinancing rate unchanged at **6.5%** and the upper corridor limit at 7.5% on September 23, but trimmed the lower floor from 5.5% to 5.0%.
Source: inbusiness.kzKyrgyz regulator fines company for refusing to accept som
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has fined a Bishkek company for unreasonably refusing to accept national currency banknotes for payment.
Source: nbkr.kgKazakhstan Plans to Introduce 'Islamic Windows' to Develop Takaful
Kazakhstan has outlined an option for existing insurance companies to offer Islamic insurance products without setting up a separate entity via an "Islamic window" mechanism.
Source: gov.kzNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan revokes exchange bureau Bashat KG's license
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has revoked the foreign currency cash exchange license of exchange bureau LLC Bashat KG for regulatory violations.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsSeptember 22
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Almaty Secures Universal Banking License
The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan has issued universal banking license No. 1.1.930.149 to Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Almaty JSC.
Source: gov.kzKazakhstan regulator warns of fake investment platforms
Kazakhstan's financial regulator has warned the public about fraud involving fake investment platforms that clone official websites of banks and investment firms.
Source: t.me/finregkzKazakhstan plans to establish an Insurance Competency Development Center
According to the @finregkz Telegram channel, Kazakhstan plans to establish an Insurance Competency Development Center under the Insurance Payment Guarantee Fund.
Source: t.me/finregkzSeptember 21
Central Bank of Uzbekistan holds policy rate at 14%
On September 16, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan kept its main policy rate at **14% per annum**, as inflation slowed to 6.2% in August while upward price pressures persisted.
Source: t.me/centralbankuzbekistanGLOBEMARKETS Authorized to Operate as Investment Consultant in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan's National Agency for Perspective Projects has issued GLOBEMARKETS LLC confirmation to conduct professional investment consulting activities in the securities market.
Source: t.me/napp_uzNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan publishes financial literacy study
In August, the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan published a study on the financial literacy levels of the country's adult population in 2025.
Source: t.me/NBKR_news