National Bank of Kazakhstan Chairman Timur Suleimenov stated that July 19 will be the unified date for all commercial banks in the country to connect to the national QR code system.
What happened
Just over a month remains until the deadline for banks to connect to the interbank payment system. According to the regulator’s head, a dedicated meeting with market participants will take place next week to resolve technical integration issues.
Timur Suleimenov noted that the connection date is the same for all banks. He found it difficult to answer exactly what sanctions await players if they miss the deadline. The National Bank head clarified that enforcement measures will apply if they are explicitly provided for by the regulatory framework. The Telegram channel Ruchnaya Ekonomika reports this.
Country and market
According to data provided by the National Bank head, 9 out of 23 second-tier banks had connected to the system by early June 2026.
The regulator previously strengthened its supervisory framework in the financial market. For example, the National Bank prepared a mandatory contribution for banks to rescue systemically important players. Now the focus shifts to standardizing payment infrastructure.
Why it matters
The public statement locks in strict launch deadlines for the entire market. The industry previously debated how major players with their own developed QR ecosystems would connect to the unified system. Suleimenov’s words confirm the regulator does not plan to push back the timeline.
What’s next
The real picture of the banking sector’s readiness will become clear after the upcoming meeting with the National Bank.
Until the regulator clarifies the sanction regime, the main question for the market remains the technical ability of the remaining 14 banks to complete integration by the unified date.
