Nurbank updates tariffs and will close inactive current accounts
Kazakhstan's Nurbank has changed its standard tariffs and announced the closure of inactive customer current accounts.
Source: nurbank.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.
September 8
Kazakhstan's National Certification Authority Updates NCALayer with Visible PDF Signatures
Kazakhstan's National Certification Authority has released an update to the NCALayer app, adding CAdES, XAdES, and PAdES digital signature formats, including the option to place a visible signature directly on PDF documents.
Source: profit.kzUzbekistan's Cabinet of Ministers introduces payouts for reporting licensing violations
On September 4, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan approved a resolution on payouts to citizens and organizations that report violations of licensing and permit requirements, setting the reward at 10% of the fine imposed on the violator.
Source: spot.uzHalyk Bank limits bonus accruals to Apple Pay and Google Pay payments
Kazakhstan's Halyk Bank has scrapped bonus accruals for card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay payments, now awarding bonuses exclusively for QR-code payments made via the bank's app.
Source: t.me/nb_kzITS launches Prediction Market to trade event-based options in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan-based exchange ITS has launched its Prediction Market platform, enabling users to trade options based on the probability of specific events.
Source: t.me/nb_kzNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan revokes licenses of two microfinance companies
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic revoked the registration certificate and foreign exchange license of microfinance company Ak-Nur Capital on September 9, 2026, for regulatory violations.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsSeptember 7
Paynet expands agent network to 7,000 locations across Uzbekistan
Payment system Paynet has expanded its network of agent locations to 7,000 across Uzbekistan, offering payment processing, account top-ups, and money transfers.
Source: paynet.uzKyrgyzstan's MBANK adjusts fees on Islamic financial products
Starting September 17, OJSC MBANK will revise commission fee rates and charitable donation amounts under Islamic Window financing agreements for retail and corporate clients.
Source: mbank.kgTenge strengthens by 2.25 tenge against dollar in KASE trading
The weighted average dollar rate dropped from 456.56 to 454.31 tenge on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange at the start of the trading week on September 8.
Source: inbusiness.kzKazakhstan's National Anti-Fraud Center processes 180,000 incidents in two years
The National Anti-Fraud Center, established under the National Payment Corporation of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, has processed over 180,000 incidents in its two years of operation, with fraud accounting for 78% of cases.
Source: npck.kzKASE Begins Trading Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana ETFs
Kazakhstan Stock Exchange KASE has launched trading in three cryptocurrency ETFs under a regulatory sandbox project involving 13 exchange member brokers.
Source: t.me/KASEofficialS&P Global Ratings Upgrades Bank CenterCredit from BB to BB+
International ratings agency S&P Global Ratings has upgraded the long-term credit rating of Kazakhstan's Bank CenterCredit from BB to BB+, affirmed its short-term rating at B, and raised its national scale rating from kzAA- to kzAA+.
Source: inbusiness.kzUAPF Contributors Can Now Transfer Up to 100% of Savings to Private Asset Managers
On September 7, amendments to Kazakhstan's Social Code took effect, allowing UAPF contributors to transfer up to 100% of their pension savings to private investment portfolio managers, removing the previous cap.
Source: kapital.kzS&P Global Ratings revises Freedom Bank outlook to positive
International rating agency S&P Global Ratings has revised its outlook on the long-term credit ratings of Kazakhstan's Freedom Bank Kazakhstan JSC to positive from stable, affirming the ratings at "BB-/B".
Source: kapital.kzLoan Portfolio of Uzbek Banks Grows to 644.6 Trillion UZS
From January to July 2026, the total outstanding loan balance of Uzbekistan's banking system increased from 604.0 trillion UZS to 644.6 trillion UZS, or by 6.7%.
Source: t.me/centralbankuzbekistanMortgage Demand in Kazakhstan Drops 13.4% Year-on-Year
Mortgage applications in Kazakhstan fell 13.4% year-on-year to 419,200 in the first half of 2026, according to a review by the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan.
Source: kapital.kzS&P revises Nurbank's outlook from Stable to Positive
S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook on Kazakhstan's Nurbank from Stable to Positive, affirming its long-term credit rating at 'B'.
Source: t.me/bull_bellNational Bank of Kyrgyzstan suspends license of Janai Cash exchange bureau
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic suspended the license of the Janai Cash exchange bureau for three days from September 4 to September 6, 2026, for regulatory violations.
Source: t.me/NBKR_newsKaspi.kz sets 0.95% fee on transfers to cards of other banks
Kaspi.kz updated its interbank transfer fees: sending money from Kaspi Gold to a card of another Kazakhstani bank now incurs a 0.95% fee, with a minimum charge of 200 tenge.
Source: digitalbusiness.kzSeptember 6
Click focuses on popularizing daily cashless payments
Uzbekistan's payment service promotes going cashless through brand communications
Source: t.me/click_uzSeptember 5
Bank deposits in Uzbekistan surge 34% to 482.7 trillion soums
According to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, deposits in the banking system reached 482.7 trillion soums as of August 1, 2026, rising 34% year-on-year, or by more than 122 trillion soums.
Source: uzdaily.uzAFSA warns of fake Atlas Capital Limited website
Astana regulator AFSA has identified a fraudulent website, atlaslimited.capital, impersonating the licensed AIFC-registered firm Atlas Capital Limited.
Source: afsa.aifc.kzSpitamen Bank opens branch in Kushoniyon
Tajikistan's Spitamen Bank has launched a new branch in the city of Kushoniyon to expand banking access for local residents.
Source: spitamenbank.tjS&P raises assessment of Kazakhstan's banking sector in BICRA ranking
S&P Global Ratings has upgraded its country risk assessment for Kazakhstan's banking sector: the "industry risk" component was raised from group "7" to "6", and the "economic risk" outlook was revised from "stable" to "positive".
Source: kapital.kzMBANK rolls out contactless payments at Nomad Games food festival in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan's MBANK became the general sponsor of the World Nomad Cuisine food festival at Issyk-Kul and deployed its MPay payment service, which functions without an internet connection.
Source: mbank.kgSolidcore leads AIX trading volume among Kazakhstani shares
Trading volume in Solidcore shares on the alternative exchange AIX exceeded the total trading volume on Kazakhstan's KASE exchange.
Source: t.me/finmentorkzMoody's assigns Freedom Life investment-grade rating of Baa3
Moody's Ratings has assigned Kazakhstan life insurer Freedom Life an insurance financial strength rating of Baa3 with a stable outlook, marking the insurer's first investment-grade rating.
Source: kz.kursiv.mediaSeptember 4
ATTO launches QR payments on buses in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan's ATTO app has added a feature allowing passengers to pay bus fares using a smartphone QR code.
Source: t.me/attouzFinancing for Kazakhstan's Small and Medium Businesses Grows by 21.2% and 56.2%
In the first half of 2026, small business financing in Kazakhstan increased by 21.2% to 4.6 trillion tenge, medium business financing rose by 56.2% to 1.9 trillion tenge, and large business financing grew by 10.5% to 4.9 trillion tenge, according to the Financing and Lending Agency (AFK).
Source: t.me/qara_aqquOtbasy Bank raises rate on AQYL educational deposit to 13.4%
Starting September 7, 2026, the interest rate on the AQYL educational savings deposit at Otbasy Bank will be 13.4 percent per annum, with an effective annual rate (AER) starting from 14.25 percent.
Source: tengrinews.kzS&P Global Ratings upgrades outlook on Freedom Holding Corp
International rating agency S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook on the long-term credit ratings of Kazakhstan-based Freedom Holding Corp and four of its key subsidiaries from stable to positive.
Source: t.me/FREEDOMFINANCEKAZAKHSTANTenge Bank enables Unified QR support in Tenge24 app
Uzbekistan's Tenge Bank has added payments via the Unified QR code, in effect across the country since July 1, 2026, to its Tenge24 mobile app.
Source: t.me/TengebankuzKASE and AIFB sign memorandum of cooperation on Islamic finance
The Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) and the Association of Islamic Finance and Business (AIFB) have signed a memorandum of cooperation covering Islamic finance and the capital market.
Source: t.me/KASEofficialStartup Alaqan sues Kaspi Bank over payment service name
Alaqan Group Limited is demanding that Kaspi Bank be barred from using the name Kaspi Alaqan for its palm-payment service, citing an earlier registration of the Alaqan trademark.
Source: t.me/bull_bellNational Bank of Kazakhstan raises 2027 inflation forecast to 6.5–8.5%
The National Bank of Kazakhstan has revised its 2027 inflation forecast upward from 5.5–7.5% to 6.5–8.5% due to rising external inflation, revised assumptions for regulated prices, and a stronger fiscal impulse.
Source: t.me/nb_kzNational Bank of Kazakhstan sets base rate at 16.25%
The Monetary Policy Committee of the National Bank of Kazakhstan has set the base rate at 16.25% per annum with an interest rate corridor of +/- 1.0 percentage points.
Source: t.me/kdif_askHalyk-Life to distribute 65.1 million tenge in initial educational capital
Kazakhstani insurance company Halyk-Life has received a 65.1 million tenge tranche for the first half of 2026 from the operator of the State Educational Savings System, which will be credited to educational insurance policies within five days.
Source: kapital.kzUzbekistan accounted for 76% of CIS venture deals in the first half of 2026
Uzbekistan generated 44 out of 58 venture deals across the CIS, driven by local funds Yoshlar Ventures, Aloqa Ventures, IT Park Ventures, and Imkon Ventures.
Source: t.me/uzbekfintechOtbasy Bank issues first mortgage under the Umai women's program
Akmaral Moldalieva from Aktau has become the first Kazakhstani woman to receive a 20.3 million tenge loan under Otbasy Bank's Umai women's mortgage program to buy a two-room apartment.
Source: kz.kursiv.mediaBaku Stock Exchange launches market making for International Bank of Azerbaijan shares
Baku Stock Exchange and PASHA Capital Investment Company signed a market-making agreement for International Bank of Azerbaijan shares, effective August 31, 2026.
Source: bfb.az