TBC Bank Uzbekistan (TBC UZ), part of London-listed TBC (Tbilisi Business Center) Bank Group, has received US$12.5 million in financing from Dutch impact investor Triple Jump to enhance its lending capabilities and promote financial inclusion in Uzbekistan.

The funds will support the launch of a new small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) lending product aimed at underserved populations, including women and women-led businesses.

The financing consists of US$5 million from Triple Jump’s Global Gender-Smart Fund (GGSF) and US$7.5 million from the ASN Microkredietpool Fund.

Both funds focus on increasing access to responsible financial services in emerging markets. The GGSF specifically supports women-owned and women-led enterprises.

This investment raises Triple Jump’s total commitment to the Uzbek digital bank to US$22.5 million, following a prior US$10 million agreement with the GGSF in November 2024.

Tbc UZ is a part of Tbc Uzbekistan, which manages a digital financial ecosystem in Central Asia. This includes the digital payments application Payme and the installment credit service Payme Nasiya. The bank is a subsidiary of Tbc Bank Group PLC, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

🔗 Source: TBC Uzbekistan

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Impact investing with a gender lens is growing rapidly in emerging markets

The US$5 million allocation from Triple Jump’s Global Gender-Smart Fund reflects a broader industry trend. Gender lens investing in private markets has reached US$7.9 billion in assets under management, with significant growth potential to reach US$13.6 billion 1.

This funding comes amid growth in the broader impact investing market, which has reached US$1.571 trillion globally with a 21% compound annual growth rate over the past five years 2.

Triple Jump’s continued commitment to TBC UZ (now totaling US$22.5 million) reflects the increasing investor interest in impact investments in underserved regions, where targeted funds can achieve both financial returns and social impact.

The focus on women-led businesses addresses a persistent financing gap, as gender-focused investment strategies have proven to drive financial inclusion and economic development in emerging economies.

2️⃣ Central Asia emerges as a key frontier for digital financial inclusion

TBC UZ’s digital-first approach to expanding SME lending in Uzbekistan aligns with regional developments in digital banking infrastructure throughout Central Asia.

In neighboring Kazakhstan, for example, the central bank is implementing an open banking initiative designed to enhance financial inclusion through digital infrastructure, standardized APIs, and interbank payment systems 3.