The net profit of Uzbekistan’s banking system grew 67% to reach 8.5 trillion soums in the second quarter of 2026. Amid double-digit growth in assets and deposits, the sector shows improved credit portfolio quality and a steady decline in foreign currency reliance.
What happened
The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) published the latest “Bank Activity Index” data for Q2 2026. The report records systemic growth across key indicators of Uzbekistan’s financial market.
Total assets of commercial banks increased 19% over the year, reaching 984.4 trillion soums. Funding dynamics outpace lending rates: the volume of attracted deposits grew 33%, while the loan portfolio added 12%.
This gap between deposit and loan growth points to liquidity accumulation within the sector. Banks are successfully attracting funds from the public and businesses but remain cautious in credit expansion.
Portfolio quality and de-dollarization
A key indicator of sector health was the decline in the share of non-performing loans (NPL). According to CERR, the metric dropped from 4.1% to 3.7%. Improved borrower payment discipline reduces pressure on bank capital and allows for reserve releases.
Concurrently, the market continues its course toward balance sheet de-dollarization. The share of foreign currency loans shrank to 39%. In the funding segment, this trend is even more pronounced: the share of foreign currency deposits fell to 19%. Lower currency risks make the banking system more resilient to external macroeconomic shocks and exchange rate fluctuations.
Market leaders by segment
CERR traditionally divides market participants into two groups to assess their activity and financial results.
In the large bank segment, the top three remained unchanged. Kapitalbank, Hamkorbank, and Asia Alliance Bank hold the leading positions. These players continue to reap the benefits of economies of scale and a developed corporate base.
Among small banks, TBC Bank Uzbekistan, Universalbank, and AVO bank maintain their lead. Finteqstan previously covered ecosystem launches and digital subscription development; current results confirm that neobanks’ bet on aggressive retail marketing and user-friendly apps yields direct financial results. Ipoteka-bank and Octobank showed the most notable growth dynamics and ranking improvements for the quarter.
Why it matters
For investors and the regulator, the CERR report confirms the stability of the chosen course. Uzbekistan’s banking sector digested the high-rate period and managed to increase margins without compromising asset quality.
The NPL decline amid profit growth indicates that banks have learned to better score clients and manage risks. The shift to funding primarily in the national currency protects balance sheets from exchange rate revaluations.
What’s next
The accumulated deposit base will require banks to find new channels for fund placement. Sustaining high profits solely through cash and settlement services and expensive risk-free instruments is difficult in the long term.
Deposit growth outpacing loans builds a liquidity buffer for banks to launch aggressive credit products in the second half of the year.
The market will likely see intensified competition in unsecured consumer lending, auto loans, and credit cards, where fintech players will battle traditional banks for quality borrowers.