In short: Suits those who want a state bank with a published document list for foreigners and a Visa or Elkart card. A document proving the right to stay and a taxpayer number (INN) are required, and the bank's app has low ratings.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Yes
- Remote account opening
- Partly
- Visa / Mastercard
- Yes
- Russian-language support
- Yes
- Former name
- Aiyl Bank; shareholders approved the new name on 2 February 2026, and the domain ab.kg redirects to abank.kg
- Owner
- State (Government of Kyrgyzstan), 100% of shares
- Founded
- 1996 (Kyrgyz Agricultural Financial Corporation); operating as Aiyl Bank since 2006
- Size
- KGS 271.1 billion in assets as of 30 June 2026, second in the country
- License
- National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic licenses No. 048 and 048/1 (reissued on 12 March 2026 after the name change)
- Visa Gold and Mastercard Gold
- free issue; Mastercard Gold servicing is KGS 500, USD 5 or EUR 5 a year; currencies: som, dollar, euro
- Visa Islamic
- free issue, free first year of servicing, KGS 500 a year from the second year; interest-free operations
- Elkart
- for individuals: issue KGS 100, servicing KGS 200 a year; youth AiCard: KGS 100 and KGS 100 a year
- Elkart virtual card
- issued instantly in the app, free issue and servicing, valid for 3 years
- App Store rating
- 2.9 out of 5 from 312 ratings as of 16 October 2026; reviews mention failed transfers and logins
Pros
- State-owned bank, second largest by assets in the country
- The website publishes the list of documents for foreign citizens
- Visa, Mastercard and Elkart, plus Islamic and virtual cards; issuing the main cards is free
- A card application can be submitted on the website with a choice of delivery
- A wide branch network across Kyrgyzstan and a Russian-language website
Cons and limits
- Low App Store rating for the app and complaints about failed transfers
- Foreigners need a document proving the right to stay in Kyrgyzstan and an INN
- State banks are tightening checks: by October 2026 ABank had closed the accounts of about a hundred companies because of sanctions risk
- Some of the transfer methods from Russia listed on the bank's website have stopped working: Golden Crown lost its registration in Kyrgyzstan
## About the bank
ABank is the former Aiyl Bank. Shareholders decided on the name change at an extraordinary meeting on 2 February 2026, and on 12 March the National Bank reissued the licenses (No. 048 and 048/1). It is the same bank under a new name. It was created on the basis of the Kyrgyz Agricultural Financial Corporation, established on 2 July 1996, and has operated as Aiyl Bank since 2006.
The state owns 100% of the shares. At 30 June 2026 assets were KGS 271.1 billion, second place in the country after Eldik Bank. Together with Eldik Bank, ABank is described as one of the state banks. In 2026 they closed the accounts of more than 220 companies because of sanctions risk.
## Account for non-residents
The list of documents for individuals is published on the account-opening page (board edition of 5 June 2024, still under the former name). For a foreigner it includes:
- a passport of the country of citizenship (a copy and the original for verification);
- a document confirming the right to stay or live in Kyrgyzstan: a residence permit, a temporary residence permit or a visa;
- a customer questionnaire, a beneficial owner questionnaire and an application.
A Russian citizen will also need an INN, which is a required field in the online card application. The page does not say which kind of INN the bank accepts, so clarify this when applying. An account can be opened in favour of the client under a power of attorney, which requires the original power of attorney and the representative's ID.
## Cards and payments
The range includes Visa Gold, Mastercard Gold, Visa Islamic, Elkart for individuals, the youth Elkart AiCard and a virtual Elkart. Visa Gold is issued in soms, dollars and euros and is valid for 5 years; the range offers E-PIN, 3D Secure and contactless payments. Visa Islamic works without interest and restricts operations in prohibited sectors.
The Mir card is not accepted in Kyrgyzstan. The bank does not report anything about the Faster Payments System (SBP) or UnionPay.
## Who it suits
- People who prefer a state-owned bank and want a Visa, Mastercard or Elkart card.
- Foreigners who already have a document proving the right to stay and an INN.
- Those who need a virtual Elkart for online payments in Kyrgyzstan.
If the app and published tariffs for foreigners matter more, look at Bakai Bank or MBANK.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same bank as Aiyl Bank?
Yes. Shareholders approved the new name, OJSC ABank, on 2 February 2026, and the National Bank reissued the licenses on 12 March. Details and obligations are unchanged; only the name is different. The old domain ab.kg redirects to abank.kg.
Which documents does a foreigner need?
A passport of the country of citizenship, a document proving the right to stay or reside (residence permit, temporary residence permit, visa and others), the forms and an account application. An online card application also requires an INN.
Can I get a card remotely?
Partly. You can submit an application and choose delivery on the website, and the virtual Elkart is issued in the app. The bank does not state that fully remote account opening is available to Russian citizens.
How much do the cards cost?
Issuing Visa Gold and Mastercard Gold is free, and Mastercard Gold servicing costs KGS 500, USD 5 or EUR 5 a year. Elkart costs KGS 100 to issue and KGS 200 a year.
Does the Mir card work?
No. Servicing of Mir cards in Kyrgyzstan stopped in April 2024, and the link between Mir and Elkart has been switched off.