Over the week from June 26 to July 3, mobile apps of banks in Central Asia and the Caucasus received more than twenty updates. Developers are shifting focus from basic transfers to the integration of lifestyle services, the development of Open Banking elements, and the expansion of installment scenarios.
Trend of the week: Ecosystem activity and routine control
Banks are looking for ways to make their apps a daily habit for the customer. Gamification and the management of regular expenses are coming to the forefront. Financial services are integrating with marketplaces and urban transport, as well as taking on the role of a single control panel for paid subscriptions.
Banks are testing the demand for services that retain the customer within the app through regular non-financial tasks.
Kazakhstan
Bereke Bank officially confirmed the launch of several features in its credit block. The bank updated the mechanics for selecting bonus categories, added statement downloads when opening a credit card, and introduced a Travel mode for customers abroad. Separately, instructions for lifting a credit stop for the Alğa installment card have appeared.
Bank RBK launched new deposit products. The introduction of the Smart deposit with daily capitalization and auto-replenishment, as well as the Aqyl educational savings account, has been confirmed.
In the bcc.kz app by Bank CenterCredit, according to the release notes, an option to repay a loan using lump-sum pension withdrawals has appeared. For corporate clients in BCC Business 2.0, a role-based model with a dedicated "Cashier" role and the display of individual transit accounts has become available.
Uzbekistan
Update of the week ⭐: Uzum Bank is testing the mechanics of ecosystem privileges for activity. Judging by the App Store description, when spending from 500,000 soums per month, the customer receives free transfers, cash withdrawals, public transport rides, and cashback on their first order in Uzum Market. The app connects fintech, e-commerce, and urban services.
TBC Bank Uzbekistan added automatic prolongation of term deposits and the ability to partially withdraw funds from a deposit in its new update.
Kyrgyzstan
Optima Bank is expanding its partner network for BNPL products. The app update announces the ability to pay for purchases on the Wildberries marketplace using the proprietary PAYDA installment plan.
Tajikistan
Alif is bringing digital scenarios to physical retail. Customers can now repay installments at partner checkout counters by scanning a QR code in the app.
Eskhata Online focused on onboarding. According to the release notes, the bank reduced the number of steps when ordering a debit card.
Azerbaijan
UBank by Unibank implemented an infrastructure feature within Open Banking. The bank confirmed that users can manage consents granted to other banks for account access directly in the app.
ABB mobile is developing AI assistants. Finteqstan previously reported that the bank introduced personal financial managers; now AI-nur and AI-khan have learned to visually analyze transactions and manage subscriptions for Visa cards.
Leobank selectively expanded its payment catalog, adding new options to the entertainment and sports menu.