Otbasy Bank Under Fire for Unequal Service Distribution in Rural Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's Otbasy Bank faces criticism over uneven service distribution. A recent report highlights the disparity in access to essential banking services between urban and rural areas. Parliament deputy Erlan Sairov voiced his concerns in a direct query to Vice-Premier Serik Zhumangarin. Sairov stated, "Otbasy Bank's services are not reaching the rural areas and villages as intended." He noted that only 20% of new housing construction funding has been allocated to rural areas. This disparity, Sairov argues, is unacceptable and requires immediate attention. The government has allocated 2 billion tenge to address the issue, but the long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in bridging the gap between urban and rural development in Kazakhstan.