A total of 2.84mn individuals in Uzbekistan had registered for the Credit Ban service as of October 1, 2026, up 10.4% from three months earlier, the Credit Information and Analytical Center (CIAC) reported.
The service had 2,841,475 users, including 1,656,387 men and 1,185,088 women.
As of July 1, the number of registered users stood at 2,574,026. The total increased by 267,449 people over the following three months.
The Credit Ban service allows individuals to voluntarily prohibit the issuance of loans, microloans and credit cards in their name to prevent credit agreements from being concluded without their knowledge or consent.
The service, launched on June 6, is free of charge. Users can activate or remove the restriction an unlimited number of times.
Individuals can manage the ban through the CIAC mobile application, the credit bureau’s website or call center at +998 71 203 47 47. The restriction can also be activated or lifted through the Unified Interactive State Services Portal or public service centers.
The service was introduced to help prevent fraud involving loans taken out in individuals’ names without their knowledge. More than UZS 1.9 trillion ($157.7mn) was stolen through cybercrime in Uzbekistan over five years, with 4% of the cases involving online loans issued in individuals’ names.
Under a Central Bank decision that took effect on April 22, interest, late-payment charges and fines on online loans obtained by fraudsters in victims’ names are to be suspended. If a credit institution has collected such payments from a victim, they are to be refunded to the victim’s bank card or designated account based on a court decision or ruling.