According to the results of the first quarter of this year, the return of cash to commercial banks in Kyrgyzstan fell to 98.6%. This is 1.1 percentage points lower than the level for the same period last year (99.7%). This indicates an increase in the amount of money “sitting” outside the banking system.

Cash goes into circulation but does not return

As of April 1, 2025, there were 241.7 billion soms in circulation in the country, of which 219.6 billion were outside the banking system. Compared to last year, the total amount of cash in circulation increased by 13.7%. At the same time, despite the positive trend in cash receipts (up 3.3%), cash withdrawals also accelerated, growing by 4.4%, which outpaced the rate of returns.

This created a negative balance. Over three months, banks issued 1 trillion 241.9 billion soms, but received only 1 trillion 224.5 billion. Thus, the gap between funds issued and returned reached 17.4 billion soms.

Geography of the decline in returns

The decline in repayment rates was most pronounced in the cities of Osh (-1.6 percentage points) and Bishkek (-1.4 percentage points), the country's two largest economic centers. At the same time, the Talas and Chui regions showed positive dynamics: repayment rates even increased there.