Neighborhood bankers to be appointed by February 1

By February 1, 2025, non-mahalla work departments will be established in district bank branches, and "mahalla bankers" will be appointed. This initiative was highlighted in a report on measures to boost employment and increase incomes in neighborhoods with the support of banks, presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev today, January 3.  

According to the report, the Chairman of the Central Bank and his deputies will visit regions to oversee the reorganization of local bank branches, aligning them with the needs of neighborhoods. Additionally, "assistant agents" will be selected in each neighborhood to collaborate with the newly appointed "mahalla bankers."  

Regional banks and district mayors will introduce residents to ready-made business projects and provide the necessary training for implementation.  

The information systems "online-mahalla.uz," "bank-kredit.uz," and "soliq.uz" will be integrated to monitor the fulfillment of assigned tasks, with daily analysis of performance. The report warns that measures will be taken against leaders with unsatisfactory results.  

Following instructions from a videoconference held on December 16, 2024, it is projected that 5.2 million people will be employed in 2025, with over 3 million supported through banking initiatives.  

To facilitate this, cooperation agreements have been signed between 208 district and city governors and bank heads, clearly defining the responsibilities of each party.  

Target indicators have been established for each neighborhood, and $1 billion in credit resources under the "mahalla project" program has been distributed among banks and regions. District bank heads will be evaluated monthly on project development, loan allocation, and employment outcomes.  

The year 2025 is expected to be pivotal for employment and poverty reduction, emphasizing the need for enhanced collaboration between local governments and financial institutions to achieve these goals.