In short: Suits those who live in the country permanently and want a card from a state bank with a large network. For a short visit, check the terms in advance.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Limited
- Remote account opening
- No
- Visa / Mastercard
- Yes
- Russian-language support
- Yes
- Owner
- State
- Founded
- 1991
- License
- Central Bank of Uzbekistan license No. 22 (edition of 15 February 2020)
- Assets
- UZS 145.8 trillion (about USD 12.1 billion) as of 1 August 2026, 1st place, 14.3% of sector assets
- Net profit, H1 2026
- UZS 1.21 trillion
- Virtual cards
- Mastercard Virtual in USD, UZCARD Virtual and HUMO Virtual in UZS, issued in the Milliy app
- Visa Champion (FIFA World Cup 26)
- Free P2P transfers up to UZS 40 million a day and UZS 200 million a month
- Non-resident terms
- Not published on the card pages
- App
- Milliy (iOS, Android); website in Russian
Pros
- The country's largest bank, with the widest branch network
- A large card range: Visa, Mastercard, Uzcard and Humo, including virtual cards
- Virtual cards are opened in the Milliy app: UZCARD Virtual and HUMO Virtual have no issue or maintenance fee
- State-owned bank with a website in Russian
Cons and limits
- There is no page with terms for non-residents; they have to be checked at a branch
- According to Spot (2023), when the Mastercard currency and the transaction currency differ, 2% of the amount is temporarily blocked
- The interface language of the Milliy app is not stated
## About the bank
The National Bank of Uzbekistan, known as NBU, has operated since 1991 and is state-owned, under Central Bank license No. 22. Its assets were UZS 145.8 trillion on 1 August 2026, about USD 12.1 billion at the Central Bank rate of 16 October 2026. That is first place and 14.3% of the assets of the whole banking sector, according to UzDaily. In the first half of 2026 the bank earned UZS 1.21 trillion in net profit.
## Account for non-residents
NBU's card pages have no section for non-residents, so the question is settled at a branch. You need a passport, a PINFL (personal identification number) and proof of registration, and the account can be opened in person only. The bank publishes no separate terms for Russians. Before visiting, call the bank to ask whether the branch issues cards to foreigners.
## Cards and payments
NBU's range covers several networks:
- Visa Classic, Gold, Platinum and Mastercard Standard, Gold, Platinum in soums and dollars;
- Mastercard Virtual in dollars, activated instantly in the Milliy app;
- UZCARD Virtual and HUMO Virtual in soums.
Visa Platinum is listed with Fast Track and DragonPass business lounges, and Mastercard cards with PayPass contactless payment. For Mastercard, according to Spot (2023), if the card currency and the transaction currency differ, the bank temporarily blocks 2% of the amount. Mir does not work, and the bank does not state SBP (Faster Payments System) or UnionPay options. The Milliy app is available on the App Store and Google Play; since 22 April 2026 it matches the phone number against the cardholder's PINFL.
## Tariffs and limits
The bank publishes tariffs on its website for each card separately. They are not broken out for non-residents, so use the general range as a guide and check at a branch.
| Card | Terms |
|---|---|
| UZCARD Virtual, HUMO Virtual | issue and maintenance UZS 0 |
| UZCARD Virtual | P2P up to UZS 3 million free |
| Mastercard Virtual | minimum balance zero soums |
| Visa Champion | P2P up to UZS 40 million a day and UZS 200 million a month free |
## Who it suits
- Those who live in Uzbekistan permanently and want a card from the bank with the largest network.
- Those who need a virtual card for online payments in the app.
- Those ready to check the terms in person at a branch.
If certainty on tariffs for foreigners matters, start with Asia Alliance Bank.
Frequently asked questions
Where does NBU rank among the country's banks?
First. As of 1 August 2026 its assets were UZS 145.8 trillion, or 14.3% of sector assets. Agrobank and Uzpromstroybank follow.
Does NBU open accounts for non-residents and Russians?
Terms for non-residents are not published on the bank's card pages. A personal visit, a passport, a PINFL and registration are needed. The bank publishes no separate rules for Russians.
Does NBU offer virtual cards?
Yes: Mastercard Virtual in dollars, and UZCARD Virtual and HUMO Virtual in soums. Mastercard Virtual is activated in the Milliy app, and its minimum balance is zero soums.
What is the Visa Champion card?
It is the bank's card tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It offers free P2P transfers of up to UZS 40 million a day and UZS 200 million a month.
Does Mir work at NBU?
No. Mir cards have not been served in Uzbekistan since 23 September 2022, and in November of that year the Central Bank said that resuming service was not under consideration.