Central Asia fintech news
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Korea Development Bank considers selling KDB Bank Uzbekistan subsidiary
Central Bank of Uzbekistan issues new guidelines on pledging primary residences
Uzbekistan expands Central Bank independence: Banks face faster regulation rollouts
Central Bank of Uzbekistan requires banks and non-bank lenders to warn of risks in ads and contracts
Kazakhstan forms unified Financial Ombudsman Service: new institution to launch January 1, 2027
Uzbekistan plans to create a currency and interest rate risk management company
Kazakhstan raises foreign currency deposit rate to 2.5%, tenge deposits drop below 20%, and 38 more stories of the week
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Uzbekistan moves collateral management online and eases fine payment terms for businesses
Starting October 1, citizens and companies can manage property encumbrances via the state services portal, while entrepreneurs get a 50% discount for prompt payment of financial sanctions..
VISA Kids limits in Ipak Yuli Mobile and 27 other banking app updates this week
“Rolled out” — what Central Asian and Caucasian banks updated in their apps this week: new features, fixes, and redesigns.
Payment service Simply to close standalone app and move to Janymda
Starting October 15, the Kazakh fintech project by Beeline will operate exclusively within the Janymda superapp..
Kazakhstan requires banks and MFIs to survey clients before issuing online loans
Starting October 1, 2026, applying for unsecured consumer loans online includes a mandatory survey to protect against fraudsters..
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Halyk Bank plans to obtain Islamic banking license
Bank shareholders approved the creation of a Sharia council and amended the charter to operate under Islamic finance rules
AFSA Warns of Fake License Under the Name Investlink Ltd: Event of the Week and 16 More
“Regulators” — what the region’s financial regulators decided this week and what shifted in market infrastructure: licenses, exchanges, payment systems, and new rules. Compiled from official regulator announcements and primary sources, by country.
ARDFM to hold full-scale cyber drills for Kazakhstan's banks in 2027
The agency will test the defenses and system recovery speeds of players controlling 90% of the sector’s assets.
NAPP allows Uzbekistan crypto exchanges to delegate KYC to third-party services
The regulator updated AML control rules: platforms can outsource client verification, but compliance officer requirements have tightened.
Home.kz crashes after update, while Anorbank praised for support: Central Asian banking app feedback
“Feedback” — what users praise and criticize in Central Asian banking apps. We break down weekly App Store reviews by bank, covering ratings, frequent complaints, and praise.
Kyrgyz Parliament Approves Binary Options Ban in First Reading
A parliamentary committee backed criminalizing the organization of binary options and unlicensed online lotteries.
Central Bank of Uzbekistan drafts unified anti-fraud rules for banks and fintech
The regulator published draft requirements. Medium-risk operations will require verification, while high-risk ones will be blocked.
National Bank of Kazakhstan implements SupTech platform for payment market supervision
The regulator discussed new internal control rules, cross-border transaction monitoring, and a separate category for payment organizations with market participants.
DC Next launches virtual UnionPay card in Tajikistan
Tajik digital bank DC Next has added instant issuance of virtual UnionPay cards to its mobile app.
Kazakhstan to rewrite capital market law for the first time in 23 years
The new draft simplifies exchange access for businesses, protects retail investors from complex products, and defines the legal status of digital assets.
AFSA recognizes clearing participation certificates as a qualified investment instrument
The Kazakh regulator expanded the collateral asset base to simplify financial institutions’ access to short-term liquidity.
BlackRock ready to channel more capital into Kazakhstan
The fund’s chief investment strategist Ben Powell called pension system and capital market reforms key triggers for investors