Uzbekistan Central Bank Approves Phone Number Transfers

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has approved rules for peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfers between individuals using mobile phone numbers through its Instant Payment System (Tezkor tolovlar tizimi), UzDaily.uz reported.

Central Bank Chairman Timur Ishmetov signed Resolution No. 22/6 on 14 August 2026, which was subsequently registered by the Ministry of Justice on 24 August 2026 under registration number 3930. The decree was adopted pursuant to the national laws "On the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan" and "On Payments and Payment Systems," as well as Presidential Decree No. PQ-359 dated 27 November 2025 on developing financial technology in Uzbekistan. The regulation will enter into force three months after its official publication.

Under the new framework, linking a mobile phone number to a personal bank account is carried out via a bank's mobile application under a public offer between the user and the financial institution. A user may link a specific phone number to only one bank account within a single bank. Once linked, the National Database of Bank Depositors automatically sends a unique link code in real time to the bank, which is displayed in the user's mobile app.

Users retain the right to cancel the link at any time via the mobile application or by contacting the bank directly. Banks may unbind a phone number without client consent under two specific circumstances: if the user's mobile app account is deleted, or if the user is placed on the official register of individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which is maintained by the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Prosecutor General's Office.

Transfers initiated through mobile banking applications will operate continuously on a 24/7 basis, while transactions made in person at bank branches will be processed during standard operating hours. Before confirming a transfer, the sender must be shown the transfer amount, the full name of the recipient, the name of the beneficiary bank, and the applicable transaction fee.

Upon successful completion of a transaction, the sender receives a confirmation document detailing the date and time of the operation, transaction identification number, codes and names of the initiating and beneficiary banks, account details, and information on both sender and recipient. Transfers conducted between clients within the same bank do not require routing through the Instant Payment System.

Interbank settlements for transfers conducted through the platform will be organized by the Central Bank based on clearing, offsetting mutual obligations and claims of participating banks to establish their net position.

The resolution specifies that individuals found guilty of violating the approved rules will face liability as established by national legislation.