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Payments/KG

Kyrgyzstan

ISO KG · 3 schemes

Summary

  • ELQR is the first integrated QR system in Central Asia (May 2022)
  • 67,000+ QR codes installed nationwide
  • 121 million transactions worth 182.4 billion KGS
  • 16+ banks/PSPs participating
  • Zero fees for domestic transfers

Banking landscape

Central Bank

  • Name: National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR)
  • Website: https://www.nbkr.kg/
  • Role: Monetary policy, payment systems oversight

Major Banks (2024)

Rank Bank Name Type Digital Platform
1 RSK Bank Commercial RSK24
2 Bakai Bank Private Bakai App
3 Optima Bank Private Optima App
4 Demir Bank Private DemirBank App
5 KICB Private KICB App

Market Structure

  • ELQR: Integrated QR system operator
  • ELSOM: Leading mobile wallet
  • Elcard: National card system
  • 16+ participants: Banks and PSPs

Payment infrastructure

National Payment Systems

System Operator Type Status
ELQR Elcard QR Payment Active (2022)
ELSOM FINCA Mobile wallet Active
Elcard NBKR Card network Active

ELQR Statistics (April 2025)

  • 67,000+ QR codes installed
  • 121 million transactions
  • 182.4 billion KGS value
  • First in Central Asia

ELQR Features

  • Zero fees for transfers
  • Som currency only
  • Instant settlement
  • Interbank interoperability

QR code standards

ELQR

Attribute Value
Launch May 2022
Region First Central Asia
QR Codes 67,000+
Transactions 121 million

ELQR Features

  • Open bank app
  • Select ELQR option
  • Scan recipient QR code
  • Confirm instant payment

ELQR Participating Banks/PSPs

  • Elcard
  • Mbank
  • RSK24
  • DemirBank
  • ElSom
  • Bakai Bank
  • NambaOne
  • Kompanion
  • Halyk Bank
  • Ayl Bank
  • Finca Bank
  • O!Dengi
  • Balance
  • KKB
  • KSB
  • MegaPay

Key Advantages

  • No fees for domestic transfers
  • Single QR for multiple banks
  • Real-time settlement
  • National currency (KGS) only

Mobile payment apps

App Provider ELQR Features
ELSOM FINCA Yes Mobile wallet
O!Dengi O! Telecom Yes Wallet
Mbank Mbank Yes Mobile banking
RSK24 RSK Bank Yes Banking
ELDIK RSK Bank Yes Mobile banking

ELSOM Wallet

  • FINCA operated
  • Mobile payments
  • Bill payments
  • Money transfers
  • Interoperable with O!Dengi

O!Dengi

  • Telecom wallet
  • Top-up from ELSOM
  • QR payments
  • Cross-wallet transfers

ELDIK Mobile Banking

  • RSK Bank app
  • ELQR integration
  • Full banking services
  • QR payments

Schemes

Scheme Type Symbology Adoption Technical standard
ELQR Integrated QR Elcard 67K+ QRs elqr
ELSOM Mobile wallet FINCA Active
Elcard Card network National Universal

Sources

Full country report

KG-kyrgyzstan.md

Schemes

Standards

source · docs/payments/KG/index.md