On June 23, 2026, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan officially confirmed negotiations regarding the entry of Azerbaijani capital into the local market. The regulator’s leadership met with the management board of ABB bank to discuss the purchase of a controlling stake in Davr Bank.
What happened
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the V Tashkent International Investment Forum. The main topic was the investor’s plans to acquire 51% of the share capital of Uzbekistan’s Davr Bank. This was reported by the regulator.
On behalf of the CBU, Deputy Chairman Sanjar Nosirov and heads of relevant departments participated in the negotiations. The ABB delegation was led by the Chairman of the Management Board, Abbas Ibrahimov.
The participants discussed the structure of the potential deal, prudential supervision requirements, reforms in Uzbekistan’s banking system, and approaches to small business lending.
Country and market
Azerbaijani bank ABB plans to apply its experience in microfinance, digital transformation, and the implementation of artificial intelligence in Uzbekistan. The investor’s stated goal is to elevate the acquired entity into one of the leading financial institutions in the local market.
Why it matters
For any M&A deal in the financial sector, regulatory approval is a key stage. The Central Bank’s public announcement about detailed negotiations means the process has moved into a practical phase.
The regulator evaluates not only the origin of the capital but also the technological expertise the new owner is ready to bring to the market. As the CBU updates supervisory practices and prepares rules for the installment market, the emphasis on AI, digitalization, and SME lending in the official release shows which areas the agency considers a priority.
What’s next
The parties agreed to continue practical cooperation. The next formal step should be the official approval of the deal by the CBU, after which the process of integrating and updating Davr Bank’s product line will begin.
The public discussion of the takeover details at the regulator level may serve as a signal for the consolidation of the Uzbek banking sector through the attraction of specialized foreign investors.
