The rapid growth of cashless transactions is backed by a well-thought-out strategy of the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan, aimed at improving the transparency and accessibility of the financial system. This is not just words, but a new reality for citizens.
Statistics confirm the effectiveness of the measures taken. Since 2020, there has been a steady increase in cashless payments. Previously, there were fees for transfers by phone number or card, and such operations were not widespread. However, after the decision of the NB KR to abolish the commission for domestic transfers in November 2024, the indicators for cashless operations skyrocketed. According to the NB KR, in the 11 months of 2025, 454.8 million payments were made through the interaction operator's system, totaling 778.1 billion soms, which exceeds the similar indicators for 2024 by 8.5 and 12.2 times, respectively.
The introduction of cashless payments between banks turned out to be a challenging decision. These services also have their costs, as banks and financial companies pay for clearing and gross services, since all transactions go through regulatory systems.
Nevertheless, the National Bank, when making this important economic decision, focused on more priority tasks: increasing the share of cashless payments and the accessibility of financial services for the population.
The number of cashless operations related to the receipt of public services has also significantly increased.
At the meeting of the board of the National Bank on December 3, 2025, a decision was made to extend the ban on charging commissions. From January 1 to December 31, 2026, commercial banks and payment organizations are prohibited from charging commission fees to clients—individuals for money transfer services in the national currency, conducted through mobile applications and internet banking.
According to the financial regulator, "the experience of 2025 showed that the abolition of commissions contributes to the rapid growth of online transfers. This makes cashless transfers more advantageous and encourages a shift away from cash, as well as stimulates the digitalization of the financial habits of the population."
