Uzbekistan to establish a unified national switch for transactions in soums
The Main Information Technology Center under the Central Bank will serve as its operator
The document to this effect was registered by the Ministry of Justice on 23 October and will enter into force on 25 January 2027. The regulation introduces a unified centralized infrastructure for processing and clearing non-cash payments within Uzbekistan. It will handle transactions involving bank cards and e-wallets in soums. The Center will be responsible for its operation, development, and cybersecurity.
All banks will be able to connect to the switch directly. Payment organizations, operators of payment systems, and electronic money operators will also connect directly but will process transactions through a settlement bank. Participants must maintain sufficient liquidity, comply with anti-money laundering requirements, and protect payment and personal data.
To connect, an application must be submitted to the Central Bank. After reviewing the organization, signing a contract, and testing the system, the regulator will decide on approval or rejection; the review may take up to 30 working days. The assessment will consider technical readiness, cybersecurity, and risk management, and the evaluation criteria must be published in advance.
