TBC Bank Uzbekistan Scales Digital Ecosystem with 1 Million New UZCARD-Backed Debit Cards

TBC Bank Uzbekistan is expanding its flagship TBC Salom debit card through a strategic partnership with domestic payments platform UZCARD. By integrating financial services with the ATTO transport network, the digital bank is deepening its presence in the daily lives of Uzbek consumers, aiming to issue one million new cards in the project’s first phase.

What was announced

The expansion introduces a new variant of the TBC Salom debit card, which is now being issued in partnership with UZCARD, a prominent domestic payments platform in Uzbekistan. This move builds on the existing success of the Salom product line, which is also issued via the Humo and Visa networks. Since the initial product launch in late 2024, TBC Salom has experienced significant growth, with issuance increasing more than ten-fold to reach a total of 1.2 million cards in circulation as of June 30, 2026.

The new UZCARD-linked card is designed to function as a comprehensive daily banking tool. It offers users 12% annual interest on deposits, 5% cashback at partner merchants, and the benefit of free cash transfers and ATM withdrawals. A standout feature of this specific partnership is the integration with ATTO, the fare payment system operating across much of Uzbekistan’s public transport infrastructure. This allows cardholders to access special discounted fares, positioning the card as a central utility for commuting and urban mobility. To support the initial rollout, TBC Bank Uzbekistan has implemented a promotion offering 5% cashback on all purchases for the first month following card activation, available until December 31, 2026.

The partnership aims to issue up to one million new TBC Salom cards during the first phase of the project. This expansion is a key component of the bank’s retail strategy, serving as a primary entry point into a wider ecosystem that includes credit products like the TBC Osmon card, as well as lending, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services, insurance, and travel ticketing.

"Through this partnership, we are continuing to raise the bar for financial services in Uzbekistan, expanding TBC Salom’s capabilities and providing an unparalleled customer experience. Combining our unique digital expertise with UZCARD’s payments system and ATTO’s transport functionality, we have created a product that helps users handle more of their daily needs. Demand for TBC Salom has been exceptional since launch, and we have ambitious plans to further entrench its position as Uzbekistan’s leading daily banking product."

Spartak Tetrashvili, CEO of TBC Bank Uzbekistan.

The companies involved

TBC Bank Uzbekistan is a major digital bank in the region and a core component of the TBC Uzbekistan ecosystem. The bank has focused on a digital-first approach to retail banking, utilizing mobile technology to provide services ranging from standard accounts to specialized lending and insurance products. It operates in a rapidly evolving financial market where digital adoption is a primary driver of growth. Its ecosystem strategy is designed to increase customer engagement by linking various financial and lifestyle services under a single digital umbrella.

UZCARD is a leading domestic payments platform in Uzbekistan, providing the underlying infrastructure for a vast network of payment processing, merchant services, and ATM operations. It plays a critical role in the country's financial ecosystem by facilitating local transactions and supporting the digital transformation of the economy. Also involved in this initiative is ATTO, a fare payment system that has digitized public transport payments across the country. By combining UZCARD’s payment rails with ATTO’s transport functionality, the partnership bridges the gap between traditional financial services and essential daily public utilities, creating a more integrated user experience for the Uzbek population.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has documented the steady expansion of TBC Uzbekistan’s digital offerings throughout 2026. In September, the bank launched TBC Avto: A 24-Hour Digital Car-Buying Revolution, marking a significant step into high-value retail services. This followed the bank's entry into the secured lending market with the launch of digital car loans in July. The bank’s regional influence was highlighted when it swept the Euromoney Awards as Central Asia’s Best Digital Bank. Additionally, TBC Uzbekistan was named among the world’s top fintechs by CNBC and Statista for the second consecutive year in July 2026, underscoring its standing in the global market.

What this means

This announcement highlights a significant shift toward "lifestyle banking" in Central Asia, where the value of a debit card is increasingly tied to its integration with public infrastructure. By embedding transport payments via ATTO directly into the banking experience, TBC Bank Uzbekistan is creating a "sticky" product that is difficult for consumers to abandon. This move puts immediate pressure on traditional banks and smaller fintech players who may lack the scale or technical agility to negotiate such multi-layered domestic partnerships. The success of this rollout will likely serve as a benchmark for whether integrated ecosystem models can successfully dominate emerging markets by becoming an essential utility for daily movement and commerce.