Click Becomes First Non-Bank Institution in Uzbekistan to Integrate Apple Pay for E-Commerce

Click has become the first non-bank payment institution in Uzbekistan to integrate Apple Pay for e-commerce. This move allows local online merchants to offer international digital payment technology through their existing infrastructure, streamlining the checkout process for consumers and marking a significant step in the maturity of Uzbekistan’s digital financial ecosystem.

What was announced

Click’s new integration allows local businesses to accept Apple Pay at online checkouts without needing a direct technical relationship with Apple. The service is designed for e-commerce merchants in Uzbekistan, who can now activate the payment method through their existing Click setup. For consumers, the integration simplifies the purchasing journey by removing the need to manually enter card details. Instead, shoppers can select Apple Pay on the Click payment page and authenticate transactions using biometric security features like Face ID and Touch ID, or their device passcode.

This rollout positions Click as the only non-bank entity in the country currently providing this specific infrastructure for online merchants. The initiative aims to reduce friction in the purchasing journey and broaden the range of payment options available in the local market. By leveraging Click’s established infrastructure, the integration bypasses the need for merchants to launch separate technical projects to support global payment standards. The launch reflects the ongoing development of Uzbekistan’s digital economy, where the ability of local fintech providers to connect businesses with global platforms is becoming a critical component of market growth.

"We wanted to make enabling Apple Pay as simple as possible for both users and businesses. Partners do not need to turn the launch of a new payment method into a separate technical project — Click takes care of that part,"

Ulugbek Rustamov, CEO and co-founder of Click

The companies involved

Click is a prominent fintech player in Uzbekistan, operating as a payment institution that connects businesses with digital financial services. It provides the underlying infrastructure for local merchants to process transactions and has now expanded its reach by bridging local commerce with global payment platforms. Apple, the technology giant behind Apple Pay, has seen its digital wallet become a global standard for secure, contactless, and online payments. While Apple Pay has traditionally been the domain of established banking institutions in many emerging markets, the integration with a non-bank provider like Click indicates a shift in how these services are distributed.

Apple’s presence in the fintech space has been a subject of significant industry focus, particularly regarding its NFC technology and the accessibility of its payment ecosystem to third-party developers. For Click, this integration represents a move to solidify its position as a central hub for digital payments in the region, moving beyond basic transaction processing to offer sophisticated international tools to the Uzbek market. The company operates in a rapidly evolving landscape where local technology providers are increasingly playing the role of intermediaries between international digital services and domestic businesses.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely tracked the arrival of international payment standards in the region, previously reporting that TBC Bank Uzbekistan Launches Apple Pay as Digital Payments Arrive in Uzbekistan. This earlier rollout by a digital bank set the stage for wider adoption across the country. Beyond Central Asia, FF News has extensively covered the regulatory pressure on Apple to open its ecosystem. Recent reports include Revolut Backs CMA Move to Open Apple NFC Access for UK Fintechs and the Coalition for App Fairness Urges Affordable NFC Access Following CMA Consultation on Apple. Additionally, UK Finance Backs CMA Move to Open Apple NFC for Digital Wallet Competition, highlighting the global push for more inclusive digital wallet infrastructure.

What this means

This announcement signals a shift in the power dynamics of emerging fintech markets, where non-bank institutions are now successfully competing with traditional banks to provide global payment rails. By lowering the barrier to entry for local merchants, Click is effectively commoditising access to Apple Pay, which was previously a differentiator for high-tier banking partners. This puts pressure on other regional payment processors to match this level of international integration or risk losing merchant volume. It also raises questions about the speed at which global tech giants are willing to bypass traditional banking gatekeepers in favour of agile, local fintech infrastructure providers to achieve market penetration.