Kazakhstanis debate over “ban on sharing bank cards with relatives”: regulator issues clarification

Tengrinews.kz – Media reports in Kazakhstan sparked heated debate after claims that citizens could no longer hand their bank cards to family members, spouses, or children, with the risk of card blocking. Readers asked Tengrinews.kz for clarification, and we turned to the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market (ARDFM), which introduced the amendments.

The regulator explained that the new rules target so-called “droppers” — people who hand over their bank cards, accounts, or credentials (logins, passwords, SMS codes) to strangers, usually for a small fee. Dropping is now a criminal offense in Kazakhstan: Article 232-1 of the Criminal Code provides for fines of up to 160 MCI (about 629,000 tenge in 2025), restriction of freedom, or imprisonment for up to three years.

What about family use?

Contrary to speculation, the regulator clarified that giving your card to a spouse or child does not automatically violate the law. If, for example, a husband gives his wife the card to shop, this is not punishable. However, banks warn that such practices can still trigger suspicion: if transactions look unusual, the card may be temporarily blocked for review.

Sanctions are applied specifically when cards are passed on for profit or used in criminal schemes such as money laundering, drug trade, financial pyramids, or illegal online casinos.

What else can happen?

• A cardholder may be added to a “gray list” (suspicious activity) or a “black list” (confirmed violations).
• Banks can block the card and online access.
• Information is automatically shared with all banks and microfinance organizations.

Current statistics

According to the National Bank, more than 200 organizations — banks, microfinance institutions, telecom operators, and state bodies — are already connected to the new system. Since launch, 88,400 incidents have been recorded:

• 8,200 individuals were added to the “black list”.
• 13,600 were flagged in the “gray list”.

These measures, the regulator stressed, are meant to strengthen client protection and help detect fraud at an early stage.