Uzbekistan Women Match Bank Access but Face Loan Gaps, Regulator Says

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Women in Uzbekistan access basic banking services at rates comparable to the national average, but remain underrepresented in access to credit, according to data from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan's pilot financial inclusion index.

The financial inclusion score for women reached 72 points out of 100. Approximately 86 percent of adult women hold a basic bank account, matching the overall national average of 86 percent.

In savings products, women recorded higher adoption rates than the national average, with 6 percent holding a savings or time deposit account compared with 4 percent across the total adult population.

However, disparities remain evident within retail and commercial lending. Approximately 19 percent of adult women hold an active bank loan account, compared with 20 percent for the general adult population. Furthermore, women accounted for 35 percent of new retail loan volumes disbursed during the reporting period and held 38 percent of the total outstanding retail credit portfolio.

The Central Bank concluded that while universal access to basic financial services for women has largely been achieved, regulatory and operational priorities must focus on narrowing the gap in credit distribution. Key focus areas include expanding funding volumes and loan portfolio shares dedicated to female borrowers and women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises.