Uzum Bank sees 142,000 Apple Pay sign-ups in 24 hours
More than 142,000 Uzum Bank customers added Visa cards to Apple Wallet within the first 24 hours of Apple Pay becoming available in Uzbekistan, according to Uzum, the bank’s parent. Customers made over 60,000 Apple Pay transactions in the same period, totalling UZS 2.8 billion (approximately US$235,000), the company says.
Uzum says Uzum Bank, its digital banking business, is among the first participating banks, with eligible Visa cards supported. According to the company, repeat payments accounted for 48.3% of transactions; public transport, grocery stores, restaurants and cafés were among the most popular payment categories.
“The introduction of international payment services is another important milestone for Uzbekistan’s rapidly developing digital economy,” said Roman Lavrentyev, co-founder and COO of Uzum and CEO of Uzum Fintech. “What is particularly striking about the speed of adoption is what it tells us about the country’s progress. This is already a highly connected market, where people are increasingly comfortable using digital financial services in their everyday lives.”
Lavrentyev added: “We are continuing to invest in making modern financial services more accessible and convenient, helping more people and businesses benefit from the country’s digital transformation.”
Founded in 2022, Uzum describes itself as Uzbekistan’s leading digital ecosystem; it combines an online marketplace, express delivery, digital and traditional banking, consumer lending and services for entrepreneurs. The company says more than 20 million people use its services each month.
