Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has put forward for public discussion a draft regulation setting out additional minimum requirements for commercial banks when dealing with consumers.

According to the regulator, it is common for borrowers and guarantors to sign loan agreements without fully understanding the consequences of failing to meet their obligations. This often leads to difficulties in debt repayment, overdue records in credit histories, and restrictions on obtaining new loans.

To protect consumers, the proposal introduces a standardized credit risk checklist, which must be given to the borrower before the contract is signed. After a loan is approved but before it is formally issued (offer confirmed), the bank will be required to provide this document. Without a signed or electronically confirmed checklist, the contract may not be concluded.

Banks would also be required to develop and publish on their websites internal procedures for restructuring loans for clients facing financial hardship or force majeure circumstances.

In particular, the document should allow repayment terms to be extended for up to 10 months for women on maternity leave. The Central Bank notes that current restructuring procedures remain vague and nontransparent for clients.

The list of unfair banking practices would be expanded to prohibit:

— issuing loans in amounts exceeding those stated in the application;
— collecting debt from social benefits, other state aid, or funds protected under Article 69 of the Law “On Enforcement of Judicial and Other Acts”;
— demanding early repayment before the date specified in the contract or schedule, except in cases provided by law or when using autopay.

The draft also proposes restrictions on the use of so-called “dark patterns” in mobile banking applications — such as pre-ticked boxes, pre-filled data, or consent forms without full review of the contract. All parameters must be actively selected and filled in by the client, including credit report requests, consent to advertising, connection to remote services, confirmation of tariffs and general conditions, and residential address details.

Agreement to the contract in the app would only be possible after fully reviewing it.

In preparing the draft, the Central Bank studied practices in the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Brazil, and India.