Digital Transformation in Turkmenistan's Banking System: Results of January-February
According to data from the Central Bank of Turkmenistan, digitalization processes in the country's banking sector are continuing at a rapid pace in early 2026. The results from January and February show that non-cash payments have become fully integrated into the daily lives of the population.
In the first two months of this year, the total volume of non-cash turnover via bank cards exceeded 3.4 billion manats. This is clear evidence of the expanding scope of the digital economy in the country.
Key Areas of Payments Looking at the structure of non-cash payments, the largest share belongs to terminals at retail and service outlets, through which more than 2.7 billion manats were processed. Additionally, the following areas made a significant contribution to the development of the digital economy:
- Online Trade: Payments through the "E-commerce" system exceeded 551 million manats, indicating growing public confidence in online stores and digital services.
- ATM Services: More than 76 million manats in non-cash transactions were performed through ATMs.
- Mobile and Internet Banking: Payments made via digital banking services (Mobile and Internet banking) approached 29 million manats. These services allow citizens to pay for utilities, communications, and other bills from home without wasting time.
- Halkbank Terminals: A turnover of more than 43 million manats was recorded through this specialized system.
Overall, while terminal payments form the core of total turnover, the steady increase in transactions via e-commerce and mobile applications confirms that Turkmenistan's banking system is evolving in line with modern global financial technologies.
