On 23 March 2018, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a resolution “On additional measures to increase the availability of banking services”.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan was instructed, by 1 April 2018, to introduce a mechanism to withdraw hard currency cash, purchased by individuals to their international payment cards on the territory of the country, within the limits established by commercial banks.

Prior to 1 April 2018, the President instructed, jointly with commercial banks, to introduce a system for remote management of individuals’ accounts, which ensures that they conduct operations for purchase and sale of foreign currency and transfer money from international payment cards to deposits in foreign or national currency.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed the Central Bank, together with commercial banks, to create automated currency exchange offices operating around the clock before 1 November 2018, especially in places actively visited by tourists.

The head of Uzbekistan ordered the commercial banks to create necessary conditions for citizens of Uzbekistan to visit the bank’s service zone without prior authorization and presentation of identity documents from 1 July 2018.

Banks should also create conditions for unhindered access to the zone for obtaining preliminary advice on rendered banking services from the administrators of the primary reception of clients.

Banks are instructed to implement a transparent system for registering and reviewing loan applications, indicating the step-by-step procedure for making a decision and procedure for notification of allocation or a reasoned refusal to issue a loan (micro-loan).

The President forbade credit institutions to charge interest, charge commissions and penalties (fines, penalties), apply other measures of responsibility under microloan agreements, as well as loan agreements concluded by pawnshops, in the amount of more than half of the amount of borrowing per year.

It is also forbidden to collect payments for consideration of loan applications, loan accounts, loans, and penalties for early repayment of loans (micro-loans) by individuals and small businesses.