Uzbekistan’s card market is entering a new stage of development. Following the rapid growth of cashless payments and the creation of extensive payment infrastructure, services that expand the functionality of conventional bank cards are becoming increasingly important. One of the key areas of growth is the development of credit cards based on the national UZCARD payment system.
Today, banks in Uzbekistan issue UZCARD-based credit cards that combine the functionality of a familiar payment instrument with a revolving credit limit. UZCARD provides the technological foundation for card issuance and servicing, transaction processing within the national payment system, and the integration of this new product segment into banks’ existing infrastructure.
Credit card development is supported by the country’s established payment ecosystem. According to the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan (source link), as of 1 July 2026, there were 74.6 million bank cards in circulation, along with 448,100 payment terminals and 46,700 ATMs and self-service kiosks. More than 81% of card spending transactions are already conducted on a cashless basis.
At the same time, Uzbekistan’s credit card segment remains at an early stage of development. The widespread adoption of digital payments, the increasing use of mobile banking applications, and consumers’ growing habit of paying for purchases without cash are creating favourable conditions for the further development of card-based credit products.
“Over the past several years, Uzbekistan has developed an advanced cashless payment infrastructure. The market is now moving to the next stage — expanding the functionality of bank cards. Credit cards are a natural extension of the customer experience that has already been established. As the national payment system, our role is to provide banks with a technological platform that enables them to develop their own products and offer customers new financial opportunities,” said Rustam Shamuradov, Director of Credit Product Development at the UZCARD payment system.
Unlike a traditional consumer loan, under which a customer receives a fixed amount for a specific purpose, a credit card provides a revolving credit limit. Once the amount used has been repaid, the available limit is restored, enabling customers to use the card as a financial reserve for everyday expenses, online purchases, and payments for goods and services.
All lending terms, including the credit limit, interest rates, fees, customer eligibility requirements, and grace-period parameters, are determined independently by the issuing bank in accordance with its credit policy. UZCARD-based credit cards provide for a grace period of at least 45 calendar days, subject to compliance with the issuing bank’s terms and conditions.
Importantly, UZCARD acts as an infrastructure partner to banks rather than as a lender. Each bank independently decides whether to extend credit, assesses the customer’s creditworthiness, sets the credit limit, and assumes responsibility for its lending decisions. This approach enables different banks to develop their own product offerings using a common technological platform.
The development of credit card infrastructure is also laying the groundwork for new digital financial services — from virtual cards and flexible credit-limit management to additional customer solutions that banks will be able to develop using the national payment system.
The transition from a conventional payment instrument to a broader range of financial services represents the next stage in the development of Uzbekistan’s card market, creating new opportunities for both banks and customers.
UZCARD. Life, made easy.