TBC Bank and UZCARD to co-issue TBC Salom UZCARD cards
Uzbekistan's TBC Bank and national payment system UZCARD signed a strategic partnership memorandum to issue TBC Salom UZCARD bank cards.
Source: t.me/uzbekfintechMarket 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.
August 27
Kazakhstan's National Fund collects 1.8 trillion tenge in oil revenue in first half
In January–June 2026, Kazakhstan's National Fund received 1.8 trillion tenge in taxes and payments from the oil sector, virtually flat compared to the same period in 2025.
Source: inbusiness.kzKazakh exchange offices sell more rubles than they buy for the first time since March
In July, Kazakhstan's exchange offices sold 126.5 million tenge more in rubles than they bought, reversing the currency flow toward net sales for the first time in five months.
Source: t.me/bull_bellAugust 26
uPay.net platform launches transfers from the US to Humo and Uzcard cards
The uPay.net money transfer service to cards issued by Uzbekistan's Humo and Uzcard payment systems has launched in the US, founded in New York by Uzbekistan natives Khusrav Makhmudov and Akmal Abdullaev.
Source: spot.uzKazakhstani banks raise loan approval rate for large businesses to 65%
In the second quarter of 2026, the share of approved loan applications from large Kazakhstani companies rose by 10 percentage points to 65%, said Dinara Tzetdinova, acting director of the National Bank's financial stability and research department.
Source: kapital.kzHalyk Finance becomes first participant in KASE digital assets segment
Halyk Finance has joined Kazakhstan's KASE exchange as the first participant in its digital financial assets and digital assets segment.
Source: t.me/KASEofficialNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan suspends Osh exchange bureau license
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic suspended the license of the Nursultan Valyuta exchange bureau from August 25 to September 8, 2026, for violating legal requirements and regulatory acts.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsAugust 25
Kazakhstan's inflation slows to 10.2% from 12.9% a year earlier
National Bank of Kazakhstan Governor Timur Suleimenov reported that inflation dropped from 12.9% in September 2025 to 10.2% in September 2026.
Source: t.me/nationalbankkzSME Lending in Kazakhstan Grows 29.6% Year-on-Year
The National Bank of Kazakhstan reported that small and medium-sized business lending increased by 29.6% year-on-year, while the corporate portfolio rose by 17.1%, with 22 trillion tenge in loans issued to businesses over the past 12 months.
Source: inbusiness.kzKazakhstan Deposit Insurance Fund publishes 2025 results
The Kazakhstan Deposit Insurance Fund (KDIF) released its 2025 results: no bank lost its license, payout timelines in the event of license revocation were cut from 35 to 20 business days, and 99.8% of retail accounts are fully covered by the fund's guarantee.
Source: t.me/kdif_askKazakhstanis shift funds into term and savings deposits
In 2025, retail deposits in Kazakhstan exceeded 28 trillion tenge, rising by 14.7%, as Kazakhstanis increasingly shifted money into term deposits, which surged more than 14-fold, and savings deposits, up 1.5 times.
Source: kapital.kzMoody's affirms Eurasian Bank's ratings, upgrades outlook to stable
Moody's Ratings has affirmed Kazakhstan-based Eurasian Bank's long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings at Ba2, revising the outlook from negative to stable.
Source: kapital.kzKazakhstan narrows eligibility for 2% subsidized mortgages
On September 14, 2026, Kazakhstan changed the terms for subsidized mortgages at 2% and 5% annual interest, limiting the 2% rate to only eight categories of applicants on the housing waitlist: war veterans, orphaned children, individuals with Category 1 and 2 disabilities, families raising disabled children, widows, and mothers of large families with state awards.
Source: tengrinews.kzKaspi.kz launches maternity benefit applications via its app
Kazakh fintech Kaspi.kz, together with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, has launched a digital service for maternity benefit applications in its mobile app.
Source: kapital.kzNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan holds policy rate at 12%
The Board of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic decided on August 24 to keep the policy rate at 12.00%, with the decision taking effect on August 25.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan holds policy rate at 12%
The Board of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic decided on August 24 to keep the policy rate at 12% per annum, taking effect on August 25.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsKazakhstan to introduce mandatory insurance for tourists and disaster coverage for homes
Kazakhstan's Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM) is preparing amendments to insurance legislation, introducing mandatory travel medical insurance covering emergency care and repatriation, as well as mandatory home insurance against earthquakes, floods, and wildfires.
Source: t.me/nb_kzAugust 24
AFSA Launches Fast-Track Licensing for Firms from Recognized Jurisdictions
Astana's financial regulator, AFSA, has introduced a streamlined authorization process for financial firms already licensed in eight recognized jurisdictions: the FCA, ASIC, MAS, HK SFC, HKMA, ADGM FSRA, DFSA, and QFCRA.
Source: aifc.kzCentral Bank of Uzbekistan reports no pressure on the sum
Abror Mirzo Olimov, deputy chairman of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, said the country's foreign exchange market is under no pressure and remains stable in 2026.
Source: spot.uzNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan Fines Payment Organization and Commercial Bank
The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan has imposed fines for regulatory violations: 220,000 soms on a payment organization or payment system operator and 64,518 soms 40 tyiyns on a commercial bank.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsKazakhstanis make over 39 million cashless transactions daily worth 509 billion tenge
In the first half of 2026, Kazakhstanis conducted 7.1 billion cashless transactions totaling 92.1 trillion tenge, up 5.1% from the same period last year, the National Bank of Kazakhstan reported.
Source: inbusiness.kzAugust 23
National Bank of Tajikistan sets new interbank settlement fees
The National Bank of Tajikistan has approved fees for interbank settlement services via the NABIM automated fund transfer system, which took effect in January 2026.
Source: nbt.tjAugust 22
S&P upgrades Kazakhstan's sovereign rating to BBB
S&P Global Ratings has upgraded Kazakhstan's sovereign credit rating from "BBB-" to "BBB" with a stable outlook, marking the country's return to this tier for the first time since 2016.
Source: kapital.kzSolidcore Shares Rise on AIX Amid Higher Gold Prices
Shares of Kazakhstan gold miner Solidcore have rebounded from a drop and are gaining amid rising gold prices and a weaker dollar.
Source: t.me/nb_kzAugust 21
23 Uzbek banks to operate over August 22–23 weekend
The Central Bank of Uzbekistan published a list of banks whose branches will open over the weekend of August 22 and 23 for currency exchange and money transfers.
Source: spot.uzCentras Securities pension asset returns reach 9.72%
As of August 1, 2026, the year-to-date return on Kazakhstan's Unified Accumulative Pension Fund assets managed by Centras Securities reached 9.72%—the highest among asset management companies.
Source: t.me/qara_aqquMastercard: Online payment adoption among Kazakhstani SMEs reaches 85%
According to the Mastercard SME Confidence Index 2026 study, small and medium-sized enterprises in Kazakhstan use online payments at an 85% rate, with 47% of companies accepting mostly cashless payments.
Source: kapital.kzKazakhstani insurers' profit drops 25% in the first half of 2026
Net profit across Kazakhstan's insurance sector reached 81.9 billion tenge in the first half of 2026, down 25% year-on-year, as revenue grew 22.3% while expenses climbed 29.1%.
Source: t.me/bull_bellHUMO and APEX Bank roll out personalized debit card numbers
HUMO and APEX Bank have launched an option allowing customers to pick the last eight digits of their debit card numbers from available combinations during issuance.
Source: t.me/humoofficialAugust 20
KASE Launches Trading in Chinese Equities ETF
Kazakhstan Stock Exchange KASE launched trading in BlackRock's iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI_KZ) on KASE Global starting October 17, 2025. The fund provides access to shares in China's largest companies, including Tencent, Alibaba, Xiaomi, and China Construction Bank, and trades in USD at around $35.58.
Source: t.me/KASEofficialVolume of Term Deposits in Kazakhstan Surges to 5.6 Trillion Tenge in Seven Months
Term deposits in Kazakh banks jumped fivefold since the start of the year—from 1.1 trillion to 5.6 trillion tenge, reported the Association of Financiers and Development of Kazakhstan.
Source: t.me/nb_kzHome Credit Bank cuts interest rates on grandfathered deposits by 4 pp
Home Credit Bank is cutting interest rates on deposits opened before October 2018 by 4 percentage points starting August 19, 2026.
Source: kz.kursiv.mediaCentral Bank of Uzbekistan records 27% increase in remittances from EU and 62% from UK
In the first half of 2026, total remittances to Uzbekistan reached $9.3 billion, up 13% year-on-year, with inflows from EU countries rising 27% to $319 million and from the UK surging 62% to $144 million.
Source: spot.uzFreedom Insurance pays out 9.8 million tenge for delivery drone crash in Almaty
Kazakhstan's Freedom Insurance has paid out about 9.8 million tenge for the total loss of an ARC Airis 3 drone that crashed into a building in Almaty while delivering groceries.
Source: kapital.kzKazakhstan banks see net profit drop 16% in January–July 2026
Combined net profit of Kazakhstan's banks fell by 16% or 269 billion tenge year-on-year to 1.398 trillion tenge in January–July 2026, marking the sharpest contraction since 2019.
Source: t.me/nb_kzKazakhstan banks earn 201 billion tenge in July
In July, Kazakhstan's banks posted a net profit of 201 billion tenge, up 26% from June when profits dropped to 159.9 billion tenge, the National Bank reported.
Source: kz.kursiv.mediaAugust 19
Vyacheslav Kim restructures Alatau City Bank ownership via AIFC holding
Alatau City Bank owner Vyacheslav Kim has established United Group Alatau Ltd, an intermediate holding company at the Astana International Financial Centre, through which he now owns JSC United Alatau Group, the entity controlling 100% of the bank's shares.
Source: t.me/finmentorkzZaman-Bank Fails to Withdraw 505.7 Million Tenge from US-Sanctioned Russian Banks
Kazakhstan-based Islamic lender Zaman-Bank explained that it failed to transfer 505.7 million tenge from accounts at US-sanctioned Russian banks in time due to a lack of time to open accounts at other institutions and complete required checks.
Source: t.me/bull_bellAlatau City Bank Partners with KJC on Mortgages in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Housing Company has signed an agreement with Alatau City Bank to partner on the “Orda Aymaq” and “Orda Aymaq Plus” programs for housing under construction.
Source: kz.kursiv.mediaTrading volume on Uzbekistan's Republican Stock Exchange reaches 10.80 trillion UZS
As of August 18, 2026, total trading volume on the Toshkent Republican Stock Exchange stood at 10.80 trillion UZS ($895.15 million).
Source: t.me/uzseofficial