Since June 2025, every citizen in Uzbekistan has been able to impose a self-ban on credit issuance in their name within just five minutes. As of April 1, 2026, over 2.2 million people have utilized this service, highlighting a growing concern for financial security and debt management in the country amid economic uncertainties.

According to the Credit Information Analytical Center (CIAC), 2,207,753 individuals have enrolled in the "Credit Ban" service. Of these, 1,283,506 are men (58%) and 924,247 are women (42%), indicating a higher engagement by men in credit-related matters. In terms of age groups, young and middle-aged citizens dominate the user base, reflecting anxieties over financial risks among the economically active population.

In the first three months of 2026, the number of service users increased fivefold, underscoring a surge in demand for protective financial tools following reports of cyber threats. Recent claims of a cyberattack on state electronic systems, which allegedly led to the leakage of Uzbek citizens' personal data onto the dark web, have raised security concerns, although the Central Bank denied these reports, pointing to ongoing vulnerabilities in data protection.

The widespread adoption of this service signals deepening issues with financial literacy and debt burdens in Uzbekistan. The government and financial institutions are attempting to bolster economic stability by offering citizens additional safeguards, but challenges in cybersecurity and data privacy persist, potentially necessitating stricter measures in the future to address these systemic risks.

Source: kun.uz