Kazakhstan to change rules for card top-ups and bank transfers
Tengrinews.kz – Kairat Bizhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Financial Monitoring Agency, announced that for bank card top-ups exceeding 500,000 tenge, the sender will be required to enter their Individual Identification Number (IIN).
He explained that the measure aims to combat cash-out schemes via ATMs.
"One of the current challenges remains the use of ATMs in cash-out schemes. Despite ongoing measures, the volume of such operations continues to grow. The main vulnerability lies in the possibility of conducting anonymous transactions without proper identification of the sender and recipient. These are often carried out using cards registered to nominal owners. To minimize risks, the agency, together with the regulator, has developed a set of practical solutions," Bizhanov said during a government meeting.
Proposals by the Financial Monitoring Agency include:
Requiring the sender’s IIN for top-ups over 500,000 tenge (previously, only the recipient’s IIN was required);
Transaction verification via mobile app or SMS;
Storing ATM video recordings for at least 180 days starting January 1, 2026, to identify participants in suspicious transactions;
Possible introduction of biometric verification for such operations, including facial recognition or fingerprints.
Bizhanov noted that the measures were agreed with the regulator at the Compliance Services Council on July 18, 2025. The goal is to block anonymous transactions and reduce cash-outs through cards registered to nominal owners.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov stated that he "supports all proposals."