As of late April 2026, over 13 million credit cards were in circulation in Kazakhstan. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
Over the year, their number increased by 3.6%, according to Finprom.kz. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of credit cards grew by approximately 19%, and over the decade, it increased more than fivefold. For comparison, in 2015-2017, the country had fewer than 3 million credit cards.
"Installment cards have become firmly embedded in the daily consumption structure of Kazakhstani people. They allow splitting payments over several months without overpayment (provided bank conditions are met), making large purchases more accessible for many clients," the portal wrote.
Installment cards, which can be used not only in Kazakhstan but also abroad, have become a separate trend in recent years. Some Kazakh banks issue universal products that allow paying for purchases worldwide while maintaining the installment mechanism within the credit limit. Such solutions are especially popular among users who make online purchases in international stores or travel abroad.
In fact, this is a hybrid product combining an installment card and an international credit card. Currently, 5 out of 23 second-tier banks in Kazakhstan offer installment cards. In 4 out of 5 banks offering installment cards, the possibility of cashing out credit funds is provided.