Kazakhstan’s Halyk Bank has entered into a landmark strategic agreement with shareholders of Uzbekistan’s leading payment platform, Click, acquiring a 49 per cent stake in the fintech company.
Simultaneously, Click shareholders will acquire a 49 per cent share in Halyk’s Uzbek subsidiary, Tenge Bank, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.
Under the agreement, Halyk Bank will invest $176.4 million to secure its stake in Click, while Click shareholders will invest $60.76 million for their stake in Tenge Bank. Both entities will maintain their independence as separate legal organizations, enabling operational autonomy alongside a strengthened partnership.
The deal remains subject to regulatory approvals in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
This partnership combines the strengths of two market leaders. Halyk Bank, the largest financial group in Central Asia, holds assets exceeding $37.5 billion and a market capitalization of $6.8 billion. Its diversified portfolio includes retail and corporate banking, insurance, leasing, brokerage, and asset management, backed by solid investment-grade ratings from Moody’s (Baa1), S&P, and Fitch (BBB-).
Click is Uzbekistan’s premier fintech platform with over 20 million users. Its digital ecosystem unites more than 10 million bank cards and e-wallets, alongside a wide range of services-from insurance and online payments to delivery, auto services, charity, loan repayments, and government service access. In 2024, Click posted revenue growth of 35.3 per cent and profit growth of 37.5 per cent.
The collaboration seeks to bolster their leadership in Uzbekistan’s rapidly growing digital finance and ecosystem market. By leveraging combined technological and infrastructural assets, they plan to offer enhanced financial products for both large and small businesses, as well as retail customers.
As of July 1, 2025, Halyk Bank’s total investments in Uzbekistan have reached $1.5 billion, underscoring a strong commitment to sustained regional growth.
Together, the Halyk Group’s potential client base across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan could surpass 32 million people, a substantial share of the combined population of over 58 million and more than 2.6 million small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2006, Halyk Bank’s shares are held by international institutional investors from the US, Europe, the UK, and Asia, accounting for 28.3 per cent ownership.
This strategic alliance with Click is expected to elevate Uzbekistan’s private sector profile internationally and represents a key milestone in enhancing Central Asia’s investment attractiveness.
Both Click and Tenge Bank will continue normal operations, with all client agreements and obligations fully maintained.
