TBC Bank Uzbekistan launches Apple Pay for customers

TBC Bank Uzbekistan has launched Apple Pay for its customers, adding Apple's mobile payment service to the digital bank's consumer offering in Uzbekistan.

Customers can use Apple Pay on iPhone and Apple Watch for contactless payments at payment terminals, and on iPhone, iPad and Mac for purchases in apps and on the web through Safari. Cardholders can add the bank's credit or debit cards through the Wallet app and begin using the service once setup is complete.

The launch makes TBC Bank Uzbekistan one of the financial institutions introducing global mobile wallet services to a market where digital payments have expanded rapidly in recent years. Apple Pay lets users authenticate purchases with Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, with each transaction secured by a one-time dynamic security code.

Apple Pay is accepted across a wide range of everyday spending categories, including grocery stores, pharmacies, taxis, restaurants, coffee shops and retail outlets. It also supports in-app payments on Apple Watch and can be used for online purchases such as food and grocery deliveries, transport and parking.

Security focus

TBC Bank Uzbekistan said security and privacy are central to the service's design. When customers use a credit or debit card with Apple Pay, the actual card number is not stored on the device or on Apple servers.

Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and stored in the Secure Element, a certified chip that keeps payment information on the device. This is designed to reduce the exposure of card details during transactions, while allowing users to pay without handing over a physical bank card or using cash.

Customers will also continue to receive the rewards and benefits attached to the bank's payment cards when they use Apple Pay. The new payment option therefore complements the existing card proposition rather than replacing it.

Digital market

The launch adds to competition among digital finance providers in Uzbekistan, one of Central Asia's fastest-growing consumer markets. TBC Uzbekistan operates as a digital financial ecosystem, with a consumer banking arm built around TBC UZ and the Payme payments app, alongside business banking products under TBC Business and BILLZ.

The group says it serves nearly 6 million monthly active users and has built its products around a young, increasingly digitally engaged population. It has also highlighted the role of proprietary technology and artificial intelligence tools, including its AI Assistant Lola, across its consumer and business platforms.

TBC Uzbekistan is part of TBC Bank Group, which is listed in London and also operates a financial services business in Georgia. The Uzbek business has been the Group's main growth market outside its home base, and according to company figures, reached profitability two years after launch.

Brand position

TBC UZ and Payme are both top-of-mind brands in Tashkent and rank among the country's leading banking and payments brands, according to the company. That position gives the bank a sizeable base from which to expand wallet-based transactions as consumers shift more spending to smartphones and wearable devices.

Apple Pay's arrival also reflects a broader push by banks and payment providers in Uzbekistan to widen access to contactless and digital checkout options. For consumers, mobile wallets can reduce friction at checkout and in online purchasing, while banks can use them to increase card usage and retention.

For TBC Bank Uzbekistan, the rollout is another step in deepening the services available through its digital-only model in a market where financial firms are trying to lock in customers through everyday payments as much as through lending or deposits. Customers can add a card on iPhone by opening the Wallet app, tapping the plus sign and following the setup steps.