UZCARD Introduces Minimum Balance Protection Rule

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s UZCARD payment system has announced the introduction of new rules governing automatic non-cash debt deductions. The changes came into effect on 15 April 2026, and are aimed at strengthening the protection of cardholders’ funds.

Under the updated procedure, a minimum non-reducible balance equal to three base calculation units will be preserved on a card during automatic debt collection. As a result, deductions will only be made from amounts exceeding this threshold.

Previously, existing practices allowed for full withdrawal of funds to cover debts, including loans, instalments, and other financial obligations to banks, which in some cases led to the complete depletion of card balances.

UZCARD stated that the new measure makes the enforcement mechanism more transparent and predictable, while also ensuring that citizens retain a minimum amount of funds for daily expenses.

It is also clarified that the new rules do not apply in cases where a client’s bank details were provided with confirmation via a one-time password (OTP).

The payment system, together with participating banks, has already completed technical preparations for the implementation of the new mechanism.