Bank RBK launches business lending using digital tenge

Financial technology in Kazakhstan has crossed a major frontier as Bank RBK moves beyond basic transaction services to offer active commercial loans utilizing the digital tenge. This significant shift connects state-backed economic support with central bank digital currency infrastructure, providing a fresh framework for how enterprises secure and deploy capital across the country's growing manufacturing sectors.

The innovation allows commercial lenders to harness central bank digital currency not only as a transactional medium but as an advanced mechanism for accountability. According to reporting highlighted by Exclusive and Qazinform News Agency, the digital tenge acts as an instrument to elevate transparency within government-backed enterprise support initiatives. The technology establishes traceable pathways for capital allocation, permitting oversight on how funds move from institutions to the end recipient while simultaneously streamlining internal banking operations.

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Early deployment of the new system has already yielded tangible results in the real economy. Several loans have been successfully issued under the Damu Fund’s Orleu programme, positioning the institution among the earliest domestic banks to integrate the technology directly into active credit pipelines. In one concrete instance, an enterprise utilized the digital tenge financing to acquire a dedicated production facility located in Karaganda. This acquisition directly supports the expansion of manufacturing capabilities for specialized equipment dedicated to livestock farms.

Aidos Mukhamedzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Bank RBK, emphasized the practical orientation of the rollout.

"Our goal is not simply to introduce new technologies, but to turn them into practical tools that benefit the economy. The digital tenge creates new opportunities to finance businesses and improve the delivery of government support programmes. For Bank RBK, this is an important step towards diversifying our financial instruments and developing digital banking solutions. We see considerable potential in technologies that make financial processes more efficient and help businesses grow"

Aidos Mukhamedzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, via Exclusive

The timeline from initial technical conception to fully operational digital currency lending was remarkably brief. Only four months elapsed between the project's inception and the final credit issuance. In May 2026, the financial institution initiated the technical work required to connect its internal architecture with the Digital Tenge Platform, which is operated and managed by the National Payment Corporation of Kazakhstan. Throughout this brief integration window, engineering teams built out operational capabilities allowing clients to execute purchases, sales, tagging, and transfers of the digital asset.

Accessibility for business clients has been integrated directly into existing digital channels. Companies wishing to utilize the service can open a dedicated digital tenge account entirely online through the bank’s Internet Client platform. By submitting an electronic application signed with an official digital signature, business owners can request credit allocations directly tied to the state-backed economic programs.

This technological expansion aligns with broader growth patterns observed across the institution's balance sheets. Prior reporting from Qazinform noted that the bank previously led domestic peers in retail term deposit expansion, registering a portfolio increase reaching 797.9 billion tenge as of August 1, 2026. Regulatory oversight for the institution operates under License No. 1.1.821.135, issued by the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market on July 15, 2026.

By merging modernization strategies with government-backed enterprise schemes, the project bridges traditional banking and advanced state financial infrastructure. The practical deployment of programmable digital assets facilitates deeper cooperation between commercial entities, state regulators, and private enterprise, helping channel financial resources toward the development of the real sector of Kazakhstan's economy.