TBC Uzbekistan introduces secured loans of up to $1m for SMEs

By Divya Shah

Why does it matter: The move signals a growing FinTech trend toward secured SME lending, enabling providers to serve larger financing needs, diversify revenue streams and strengthen customer engagement through integrated digital banking ecosystems.

TBC Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s digital financial ecosystem and part of TBC Bank Group, launched its secured lending product for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), expanding access to growth capital for businesses across the country. 

Introduced through TBC Business, Uzbekistan’s fully digital business banking platform, the new solution enabled SMEs to obtain secured loans of up to 12 billion Uzbek soums (approximately $1 million). The launch followed demand from the SME sector, with more than 30,000 businesses registered on the platform since its inception. 

Built around a fully digital banking model, the product was designed with flexible collateral requirements and a grace period of up to 12 months.  

Working capital financing was made available for up to 36 months, while investment financing was extended for periods of up to 120 months, supporting long-term business expansion. 

Nika Kurdiani, CEO of TBC Uzbekistan, said, “As businesses grow, entrepreneurs need access to larger loans to help them scale their business and fund longer-term projects, such as expanding production or purchasing equipment and commercial real estate. This new product was built to meet exactly that demand, giving businesses access to the financing needed to reach these larger-scale goals, all while keeping the same simple, fully digital customer journey that defines our products. This ultimately enables business owners to focus on what matters most: growing their companies.” 

The launch further strengthened TBC Uzbekistan’s strategy of building an integrated ecosystem for businesses and consumers. Its acquisition of a majority stake in BILLZ in 2025 added retail management SaaS capabilities to TBC Business, enhancing its position as a one-stop platform for financial and operational services.  

Additional support for SMEs was also provided through educational initiatives developed in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).