A roundtable discussion held at the Central Bank of Uzbekistan brought to light growing public frustration over financial service commissions, operational costs, and consumer rights. Representatives from commercial banks, payment systems, and the media gathered to address the contentious practice of charging fees for depositing cash onto bank cards.

During the debates, economist Otabek Bakirov criticized local banking practices by contrasting them with foreign financial institutions where he reportedly holds accounts. According to Bakirov, depositing and withdrawing cash incurs zero commission fees in these institutions, as rational banks are supposedly driven by the primary goal of accumulating resources and earning consumer trust.

Independent participants and journalists underscored the financial burden placed on ordinary citizens, noting that while banks continuously justify their expanding expenditures, the daily costs borne by customers are largely ignored. Particular concern was raised over wage earners who face ongoing financial friction when attempting to cash out their salaries or transfer funds between cards.

In defense of current policies, a representative from Xalq Bank elaborated on the mechanics of their cash-in terminal network, claiming that while transactions for their own customers remain free, clients from competing banks are subjected to a 0.4 percent commission fee. The bank alleged that these charges are merely designed to offset operational maintenance costs rather than generate substantial profits.

Source: kun.uz