Kazakhstan to cap consumer debt at 8x annual income from 2027
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The National Bank of Kazakhstan plans to introduce a debt-to-income ratio cap of eight times annual income for all consumer loans starting January 1, 2027. Kursiv calculated the maximum borrowing amounts for salaries ranging from 100,000 to 600,000 tenge. The measure aims to curb household over-indebtedness.
Debt Cap Calculation
Under the new rule, a borrower earning 100,000 tenge per month (1.2 million tenge annually) will be limited to total debt of 9.6 million tenge. For a salary of 300,000 tenge monthly (3.6 million tenge per year), the ceiling rises to 28.8 million tenge. Those earning 600,000 tenge per month (7.2 million tenge annually) can borrow up to 57.6 million tenge across all loans.
Implementation Timeline
The National Bank plans to enforce the debt-to-income ratio starting January 1, 2027. The regulation applies to all consumer loans, including credit cards and microloans. Mortgage loans are expected to be exempt from the cap, according to preliminary proposals.
ADB Housing Project for Women
The Asian Development Bank provided $100 million for affordable housing finance targeting women in Kazakhstan, particularly in provinces. Over 2,000 women have already benefited through Otbasy Bank. The fund was structured to avoid exchange rate risks for borrowers.
What's Next
The National Bank is expected to publish the final regulatory framework by mid-2026. It remains unclear whether the cap will be adjusted for inflation or income growth before implementation.
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Kazakhstan to cap consumer debt at 8x annual income from 2027
