Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In the first half of 2025, the total amount of microfinance services provided by credit institutions reached 66.9 trillion soums, an increase of 32.1 trillion soums, or 1.9 times, compared to the same period in 2024, according to a report by the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.

Of this total, 80% (53.6 trillion soums) was provided by commercial banks, 18% (12.0 trillion soums) by microfinance organizations, and 2% (1.3 trillion soums) by pawnshops.

The 1.9-fold growth in microfinance services was driven by an increase in services in commercial banks (1.9 times), microfinance organizations (2.2 times), and pawnshops (31%).

Of the total microfinance services provided in the first half of 2025, 61.1 trillion soums (91%) were for amounts up to 100 million soums, while 5.8 trillion soums (9%) were for amounts between 100 and 300 million soums, the regulator reported.

As a result, the share of microfinance services in the total loans issued by credit institutions increased from 26% in the first half of 2024 to 34% in the first half of 2025.

In terms of market participants, of the total volume of services provided by banks in the first half of 2025, 37.7 trillion soums (70%) came from private banks and 15.9 trillion soums (30%) from state-owned banks. Growth in microfinance services reached 2.2 times in private banks and 46% in state-owned banks.

The highest growth rates were recorded in state-owned banks: Mikrocreditbank – 2.6 times (microloans 4.4 times), Agrobank – 2.4 times (microloans 5.5 times), Aloqabank – 2.2 times (microloans 3.6 times); among private banks: TBC Bank – 3.2 times (microloans 3 times), Invest Finance Bank – 3.1 times (credit cards 3.3 times), Anorbank – 75% (microloans 73%).

Three microfinance organizations accounted for 72% or 8.7 trillion soums of services provided: Tezkoin (5.6 trillion soums, 47%), Shaffof Moliya (2.3 trillion soums, 20%), and Fortuna Business (641 billion soums, 5%).

Three pawnshops provided 18% or 236 billion soums of microloans: Oltin – 120 billion soums (9%), Shokir Invest – 59 billion soums (5%), and Maximum – 57 billion soums (4%).

By product type, microloans accounted for 49.8 trillion soums (74%), microcredits 5.5 trillion soums (8%), and other microfinance services (business microcredits for individuals, credit cards, overdrafts, and consumer loans) 11.6 trillion soums (18%). Compared to the first half of 2024, microloans increased 2.2 times (27 trillion soums), microcredits by 3% (157 billion soums), and other services 1.8 times (5.0 trillion soums).

Microloan distribution by participant: commercial banks – 75% (40.2 trillion soums), microfinance organizations – 69% (8.3 trillion soums), pawnshops – 100% (1.3 trillion soums).

Microloans in state-owned banks grew 1.7 times (4.1 trillion soums), in private banks 2.3 times (17.3 trillion soums). The largest growth was observed in Agrobank – 5.5 times (2 trillion soums), Business Development Bank – 5.3 times (804 billion soums), Mikrocreditbank – 4.4 times (941 billion soums); among private banks: Davrbank – 8.8 times (440 billion soums), Tenge Bank – 4 times (235 billion soums), TBC Bank – 3 times (14.3 trillion soums). In microfinance organizations and pawnshops, microloans grew 2.4 times to 5.6 trillion soums.

Microcredits accounted for 10% of commercial banks’ microfinance services (5.1 trillion soums) and 3% of services provided by microfinance organizations (417 billion soums). The largest growth among state banks was at Uzmilliybank – 3.6 times (274 billion soums), Aloqabank – 2.6 times (123 billion soums); among private banks: Trustbank – 8.8 times (281 billion soums), Davrbank – 2.5 times (90 billion soums), Hamkorbank – 61% (230 billion soums). Microfinance organizations saw microcredit growth of 3.3 times (289 billion soums).

Other microfinance services accounted for 15% (8.3 trillion soums) in commercial banks and 27% (3.3 trillion soums) in microfinance organizations. This includes business microcredits for individuals – 9% (6.1 trillion soums), credit cards – 7% (4.9 trillion soums), overdrafts – 0.7% (495 billion soums), and consumer loans – 0.2% (112 billion soums).

Growth in other microfinance products: state banks – 1.6 times (1.1 trillion soums), private banks – 2.1 times (2.9 trillion soums). The largest growth was observed at Halk Bank – 6.3 times (620 billion soums), Agrobank – 2.8 times (764 billion soums), Turonbank – 2.5 times (127 billion soums); among private banks: Ipak Yuli Bank – 8.5 times (211 billion soums), Kapitalbank – 4.9 times (751 billion soums), AVO Bank – 4.6 times (738 billion soums), Invest Finance Bank – 3.2 times (870 billion soums).

By clients, 61.3 trillion soums (92%) of microfinance services were provided to individuals, an increase of 32 trillion soums or 2.1 times compared to the first half of 2024. Of this, self-employed individuals received 18.6 trillion soums (28% of all services), a threefold increase over the previous year. Services to self-employed were provided by commercial banks – 15.3 trillion soums, and microfinance organizations – 3.3 trillion soums.

Individual entrepreneurs received 2 trillion soums (3%), down 977 billion soums or 33% compared to the first half of 2024. Legal entities received 3.6 trillion soums (5.4%), up 1.1 trillion soums or 46%.

The client structure changed: the share of individuals decreased from 66% to 64%, while the share of self-employed increased from 18% to 28%.

By sector: industry – 61% (3.5 trillion soums), trade and general services – 19% (1.1 trillion soums), agriculture – 8% (439 billion soums), construction – 0.2% (13 billion soums), other – 12% (707 billion soums).

In industry, 82% of funds were for replenishing working capital, 13% for equipment purchase, 3% for production, and 2% for textile manufacturing.

Sector growth compared to the first half of 2024: trade and general services +54% (389 billion soums), agriculture +3% (15 billion soums), other sectors doubled (363 billion soums).

By term, the share of short-term loans decreased in commercial banks from 11% to 7%, while in microfinance organizations and pawnshops it increased from 65% to 81%. Short-term services totaled 22% (15 trillion soums), doubling over the period. The share of short-term loans: commercial banks – 26%, microfinance organizations and pawnshops – 74%.

Long-term loans accounted for 78% (52 trillion soums), up 1.9 times. The share of commercial banks – 95% (50 trillion soums), up twofold.

By currency, 99.5% of services (66.4 trillion soums) were provided in the national currency, doubling in volume. Banks – 25.7 trillion soums, microfinance organizations and pawnshops – 6.9 trillion soums. Services in foreign currency amounted to 308 billion soums, down 66%. Four banks provided 75% of these services: Kapitalbank – 92 billion soums, Davrbank – 82 billion soums, Halk Bank – 29 billion soums, Ipak Yuli Bank – 25 billion soums.

Regionally, microfinance services showed growth. The highest increases were: total services – Tashkent 2.5 times (26.2 trillion soums), Khorezm +56% (621 billion soums), Republic of Karakalpakstan +51% (520 billion soums); microloans – Tashkent 2.7 times (22.4 trillion soums), Khorezm +86% (336 billion soums), Surkhandarya +84% (432 billion soums); microcredits – Navoi +43% (93 billion soums), Tashkent +27% (256 billion soums), Syrdarya +18% (25 billion soums); other products – Tashkent 2.2 times (3.9 trillion soums), Bukhara 2 times (173 billion soums), Republic of Karakalpakstan +89% (137 billion soums).

Microfinance services to individuals grew in all regions, with the largest increase in Tashkent – 2.4 times (18.4 trillion soums), Khorezm +33% (163 billion soums), Jizzakh +27% (115 billion soums).

Services for business entities increased in all regions: Tashkent – 3 times (8.2 trillion soums), Republic of Karakalpakstan and Navoi – 1.9 times (412 billion and 378 billion soums). Tashkent accounted for 44 trillion soums (66%) of all microfinance services provided.