In short: Suits those who want a free Visa Classic from a foreign-owned bank with a nationwide network. No terms for foreigners are published, and transfers to Russian banks do not go through.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Limited
- Remote account opening
- No
- Visa / Mastercard
- Yes
- Russian-language support
- Yes
- Full name
- Demir Kyrgyz International Bank CJSC (DKIB), brand DemirBank
- Founded
- 1997 (licenses obtained on 2 May 1997, official opening on 28 May 1997)
- Owner
- A bank with 100% foreign capital: the official page names HCBG Holding B.V. (Netherlands) and the main shareholder Halit Cingillioglu
- Size
- KGS 86.3 billion (about USD 0.99 billion) in assets as of 30 September 2026
- License
- National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic license No. 035 (also 035/1)
- Capital adequacy
- 18.1% as of 30 September 2026 against a 14% requirement; charter capital KGS 8.5 billion
- Network
- 14 branches, about 300 ATMs and 3,600 POS terminals
- Visa Classic (debit)
- free issue of the main card and free servicing; currencies: som and dollar
- Visa Gold and Platinum (debit)
- Gold: KGS 1,000 a year; Platinum: KGS 5,000 a year, free issue with a salary of KGS 500,000 a month or quarterly turnover of USD 5,000
Pros
- Operating since 1997, with 14 branches, about 300 ATMs and 3,600 terminals
- Capital adequacy of 18.1% against a 14% requirement; charter capital grew to KGS 8.5 billion
- Visa, Mastercard and Elkart cards; Visa Classic has no issue or servicing fee
- Website in Russian, Kyrgyz, English and Turkish; cooperation with the EBRD in 2026
Cons and limits
- No published list of documents or tariffs for foreign citizens
- Transfers to Russian banks do not go through because of sanctions on those banks (bank statement, August 2024)
- Visa Platinum is available only with a high salary or turnover; Gold costs KGS 1,000 and Platinum KGS 5,000 a year
- Assets of KGS 86.3 billion: the bank is noticeably smaller than BAKAI, KICB and Optima Bank
## About the bank
DemirBank is Demir Kyrgyz International Bank CJSC (DKIB). Its banking licenses were obtained on 2 May 1997, and the official opening took place on 28 May 1997. The bank is wholly owned by foreign shareholders: the official page names the Dutch HCBG Holding B.V. and the main shareholder Halit Cingillioglu. Charter capital grew from KGS 6 billion to KGS 8.5 billion.
According to the report as of 30 September 2026, assets were KGS 86.3 billion and capital adequacy was 18.1% against a 14% requirement. In the Economist.kg ranking as of 30 June 2026 the bank is in the group with assets of KGS 20-80 billion, so by size it trails BAKAI, KICB and Optima Bank. It has 14 branches, about 300 ATMs and 3,600 POS terminals. In 2026 the bank began cooperating with the EBRD. DemirBank is not among the banks sanctioned by the US, the EU and the UK in 2025 and 2026.
## Account for non-residents
The official website has no separate document list or tariffs for foreign citizens, so the terms should be confirmed with the bank before a visit: the contact center works at +996 312 610 610 and 2222. In an Economist.kg review from November 2022 a foreigner needed a passport and a registration slip; this is old information, and the package may have changed.
The bank does not state that remote opening is available to foreigners.
## Cards and payments
The range includes Visa debit cards (Classic, Gold, Platinum), Mastercard (Standard, Gold) and Elkart, as well as Visa and Mastercard credit cards. The home page states an interest-free period of up to 35 days for credit cards.
| Card | Terms |
|---|---|
| Visa Classic | free issue of the main card and free servicing; currencies: som, dollar |
| Visa Gold | servicing KGS 1,000 a year |
| Visa Platinum | servicing KGS 5,000 a year; free issue with a salary of KGS 500,000 a month or turnover of USD 5,000 a quarter |
| Mastercard Standard, Gold | som, dollar, euro; tariffs not listed on the website |
Discounts and bonuses from partners range from 3% to 50%. Contactless payment and Apple Pay work, and virtual credit cards are available. Mir has not been serviced in the country since April 2024, and the bank does not report anything about the Faster Payments System (SBP) or UnionPay.
## Who it suits
- Those looking for a free Visa Classic and a bank with a wide network.
- Clients who value a Russian-language website and support.
- Those who are ready to confirm the terms in person at a branch.
If you need a published tariff for foreigners, look at Bakai Bank or MBANK.
Frequently asked questions
Will DemirBank open an account for a foreigner?
The website publishes no terms for foreign citizens. Before visiting, confirm the list of documents with the bank's contact center at +996 312 610 610 or 2222.
Who owns DemirBank?
It is a bank with 100% foreign capital. The official page names HCBG Holding B.V. (Netherlands) and the main shareholder Halit Cingillioglu. The shareholders' stakes are shown on the website as an image.
How much do Visa cards cost?
Visa Classic is issued and serviced for free. Visa Gold costs KGS 1,000 a year and Visa Platinum KGS 5,000 a year. Platinum is issued free with an official salary of KGS 500,000 a month or quarterly turnover of USD 5,000.
Does Apple Pay work?
Yes. DemirBank was named among the first banks whose cards can be added to Apple Pay after the service launched in late July 2026.
Can I transfer money to Russian banks?
In August 2024 the bank said that transfers to Russian banks do not go through because of sanctions on those banks, while transfers by passport details through Western Union, MoneyGram and Golden Crown remained available. Golden Crown lost its registration in Kyrgyzstan in September 2026.