News

Central Asia fintech news

Market updates on regulation, banking products, payments, deals and digital services across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

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Why Buying Medicines Online Turns Into a Quest With an Uncertain Outcome for Kazakhstanis

Ordering medicines online in Kazakhstan is a lottery: a drug is listed as in stock but is actually unavailable, and users fear making a mistake when choosing an alternative.

Kids' Cards in Kazakhstan: The Child is Bored, the Parent is Anxious

Kids’ cards are stuck between extremes: either a boring “micro-bank” with adult terminology or a toy the child quickly outgrows.

Fear of Flight Cancellations and the Bonus Hunt: How Kazakhstanis Buy Travel in Superapps

Banks offer better deals on tours and tickets than traditional operators. Yet peace of mind beats price: travelers want to know what happens if their flight gets canceled.

Why automatic analytics "lie" and Kazakhstanis still track budgets manually in spreadsheets

Almost every bank offers spending charts, yet users still track their budgets in Excel because they don’t trust automatic categorization.

The Bank as a Ticket Office: What Keeps Superapps from Becoming Leisure Hubs

You can buy a ticket through a bank, but the app remains a checkout counter. When planning downtime, users do not want to see loan balances next to movie posters.

Paying in the bank, routing in another app: The transport gap in Kazakhstan's superapps

Paying fares via QR is easy, but planning a trip is not: users have to jump between the bank app, maps, and ride-hailing.

Kazakhstanis abandon bank marketplaces for Wildberries and Pinduoduo when buying clothes

Why Kazakhstanis buy clothes on Wildberries and Pinduoduo despite the payment convenience of bank marketplaces—and what would bring them back.

Foodtech in Superapps: How Grocery Delivery Impacts Bank Brand Loyalty

Food and grocery delivery drives daily app engagement. But trust hinges on the details: accurate weight, freshness, and fast refunds.

From statements to forecasts: Predictive analytics and dashboards in business banking

Statements show the past, but businesses need forecasts. How banks are learning to warn about cash gaps in advance.

Return of the debt-to-income ratio will cool Kazakhstan's car loan market from 2027

On January 1, 2027, the ARDFM will end the period of regulatory relief. Banks will once again factor in the DTI ratio when issuing car loans, limiting access for clients with high debt burdens.

Eskhata Bank launches kids' wallet with parental control

The Tajik bank has integrated financial services for users aged 7 to 16 into its main mobile app.

Astana Open Dialogue Releases Bulletin on Kazakhstan's Transition from e-Gov to AI-Gov

The platform has summarized discussions on the country’s readiness for artificial intelligence implementation, addressing computational infrastructure, data quality, and labor market shifts.