BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. The volume of
non-cash bank card transactions through mobile banking in
Turkmenistan reached 71.1 million manat ($20.3 million) in the
period from January through August 2026, up 140.7%
year-on-year.


The figure was calculated by Trend based on data published by the Central Bank of
Turkmenistan.


According to the calculations, Rysgal JSCB recorded the highest
growth in mobile banking transaction volume, increasing by 632.5%
compared with the same period of 2025. This represents more than a
sevenfold increase.


Turkmenistan State Commercial Bank (SCBT) and the State Bank for
Foreign Economic Affairs followed, with increases of 92.5% and
82.7%, respectively.


At the same time, Turkmenbashi JSCB recorded growth of 19.7%,
while Dayhanbank SCBT and Senagat JSCB posted increases of 16.8%
and 4.3%, respectively.







According to Trend’s calculations, mobile banking transaction
volumes declined by 9.6% at Turkmen-Turkish JSCB and by 91.2% at
Halkbank.


For reference, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan launched
cashless payments in 2001 with the introduction of the domestic
Altyn Asyr card scheme. While the initial infrastructure was
developed in the 2000s, broader adoption gained momentum in the
mid-2010s as part of government efforts to digitalize the
economy.


In August 2020, the government announced the launch of the
Halkbank Terminal mobile application, developed by JSCB Halkbank to
allow merchants to accept cashless payments directly through
NFC-enabled smartphones, replacing traditional POS terminals. The
initiative was presented as a step toward expanding cashless
payments and introducing contactless payment technologies across
the country.


Alongside payment terminals, Turkmen banks have expanded digital
banking services, including Internet Banking, Mobile Banking,
e-commerce payment platforms and specialized applications such as
Senagat Töleg, while continuing to develop the national Altyn Asyr
bank card payment system. These services enable customers to pay
for utilities, telecommunications, transport, taxes and other
public services electronically.