The National Bank of Kazakhstan announced that the Financial Stability Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan has decided to introduce a sectoral countercyclical capital buffer (CCB) aimed at lending to individuals, set at 2% and to be applied as a mandatory regulatory requirement for second-tier banks from 1 February 2026. The measure is intended to reduce risk build-up in a specific lending segment, with the Council noting that lending to individuals dominates banks’ loan portfolios even as overall financial stability factors remain at a normal level. The National Bank will monitor conditions and, if needed, adjust the buffer settings. The Council also reviewed the architecture of interdepartmental anti-crisis plans developed in line with International Monetary Fund and World Bank recommendations under Kazakhstan’s financial sector assessment programme, and approved the list of banks proposed by the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market for a Sustainable Asset Quality Review (AQR) and a supervisory stress test (VAT) in 2025. Banks have a 12-month transition period to accumulate capital ahead of the buffer taking effect on 1 February 2026.
National Bank of Kazakhstan 2025-03-03
National Bank of Kazakhstan-led Financial Stability Council sets 2% sectoral countercyclical capital buffer on household lending from February 2026
The National Bank of Kazakhstan will introduce a 2% sectoral countercyclical capital buffer for individual lending, effective 1 February 2026, as a mandatory requirement for second-tier banks. This measure aims to mitigate risk in the dominant lending segment while maintaining financial stability. The Financial Stability Council also approved plans for a Sustainable Asset Quality Review and supervisory stress test in 2025.