There is a shortage of quality expertise and B2B tools on the market that would retain entrepreneurs within the banking ecosystem. By creating value beyond transactions, a bank transforms from a cash register into a growth partner. A study on the digital maturity of SME banking in Uzbekistan shows that almost nothing has been done here yet.
Download the full research (PDF). Data on 20 banks in Uzbekistan and 110 parameters, maturity rating, and methodology.
The Short Answer
Non-financial services include education, market analytics, guides, and B2B tools that make a bank useful beyond payments. So far, only a few are developing them; content is published irregularly, and partner marketplaces and access to state support are limited. Value beyond transactions turns the bank into a daily business ecosystem and increases customer loyalty.
Why It Benefits a Bank to Be More Than a Bank
Transactions are easy to copy; relationships are not. When a business opens an app not only to pay but also to figure out taxes, find a partner, or take a training course, it stays in the ecosystem and logs in more often. Non-financial services increase contact frequency and loyalty, which means higher customer value for the bank.
This is especially important in a segment where everyone's basic products are similar: it is the add-on around the account that distinguishes one bank from another in the eyes of an entrepreneur.
What the Research Showed
Leaders in this area according to the Rocket Tech research ("Education and Info Support"): 1. Aloqabank, 2. NBU, 3. Ipak Yuli Bank.
There are almost no useful services around the account—here are the three most noticeable gaps.
Little Educational Content
Only a few players develop useful training programs and practical content for entrepreneurs.
Irregular Analytics
Market reviews, tax guides, and recommendations are published unsystematically, so they do not build a habit of returning.
Limited B2B Tools
Partner search tools and access to state support programs are poorly developed, even though this is a direct request from small businesses.
How It Looks in Practice
A novice entrepreneur opens an account and faces typical questions: how to calculate taxes, where to find a reliable supplier, whether they are eligible for state support. In some places, they only get an account and leave to search for answers on the internet and from acquaintances—the bank remains just a cash register for them. In other places, right in the app, there is a clear tax guide, regular analytics on their market, webinars, and a B2B marketplace where they can find a partner: the entrepreneur solves their tasks without leaving the bank's ecosystem and begins to perceive it as an advisor—logging in more often and leaving less frequently.
How It Is Solved
- Regular educational series — webinars with experts and practical courses for SMEs.
- News and analytical platforms with up-to-date recommendations inside the banking app.
- Internal marketplaces for B2B interaction and integration with accounting consultations.
Rocket Tech helps banks find and launch such services—education, analytics, B2B tools—that businesses actually use, rather than scrolling past like a storefront.
Why It Matters for the Bank
Non-financial services mean differentiation and retention in a segment where everyone's basic products are similar. They increase the frequency of app logins, strengthen the image of a partner bank, and open up new sources of commission and affiliate income. Essentially, the bank starts earning on relationships, not just on transactions.
FAQ
What are non-financial bank services?
Everything a bank provides to a business besides accounts and payments: education, analytics, guides, partner search, and access to support programs.
Why does a bank need educational content for businesses?
It increases loyalty and contact frequency: the client opens the app not only to pay but also to solve development tasks, and gets used to returning.
What is an internal B2B marketplace in a bank?
A platform where the bank's corporate clients find partners and each other's services while staying within its ecosystem.
How do non-financial services affect a bank's income?
Indirectly and directly: they retain the client and increase transaction frequency, as well as open up affiliate and commission earning models.
Which non-financial services are easiest to start with?
Usually with content and analytics: tax guides and market reviews are cheap to launch and immediately increase login frequency, building a habit of returning.