Uzbekistan: Strategic deal between Halyk Bank and Click transforms the financial sector

The financial market of Uzbekistan has become the scene of an important strategic transaction between an international banking group and one of the key players in the field of digital payments. Halyk Bank has entered into an agreement with the shareholders of Click JSC to acquire a 49% stake in the company, while simultaneously selling 49% of its stake in Tenge Bank registered in the Republic to the same investors.

The value of Click's stake was $ 176.4 million. In turn, Click shareholders purchased a stake in Tenge Bank for $ 60.76 million. The transaction is executed on the principle of mutual investment, while both parties retain the status of independent legal entities. This format allows partners to integrate into strategic processes without losing operational autonomy.

Tenge Bank is a universal commercial bank operating in Uzbekistan since 2019 and fully owned by Halyk Bank. The institution received a license from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan on May 18, 2019, and in July of the same year started servicing customers. The Bank provides a wide range of financial services, including servicing individuals and legal entities, lending, and cash settlement operations.

Click, in turn, occupies one of the leading positions in the digital payments market of Uzbekistan. Founded in 2011, it has evolved from a mobile service to a high-tech online payment ecosystem. In June 2024, the company was transformed into a joint-stock company. According to the results of the first quarter of 2025, the number of registered users of the platform exceeded 20 million, of which more than 5 million were fully identified.

Click provides transfer and payment services for individuals, businesses, government agencies and commercial operators, and actively implements digital tools in everyday financial practices of the population. In the context of the rapid growth of non-cash payments and digitalization of the national economy, the participation of a strategic investor can become a catalyst for further scaling of the company's business and strengthening its position in the market.

The deal between Halyk and Click reflects the trend towards convergence of traditional banking capital with the fintech sector, which opens up new prospects for the development of innovative financial products in Uzbekistan. Such transactions are an indicator of the maturity of the local financial market and its ability to attract high-tech and institutional investments.