National Bank dismisses reports of vanishing funds from Kazakh accounts as rumors
Tengrinews.kz - Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan Berik Sholpankulov has dismissed as rumors recent claims circulating on social media about unexplained withdrawals from citizens’ bank accounts.
During a briefing, journalists raised concerns over multiple complaints from users who alleged that funds had disappeared from their accounts via mobile banking apps.
"Have there been any inspections? Was a technical glitch detected in second-tier banks?" one reporter asked.
Sholpankulov responded with skepticism.
“Such incidents are highly unlikely. Money doesn’t just disappear. If there’s a technical malfunction, the bank is responsible for restoring the affected funds. All data is archived, and in the event of a system failure, everything is recoverable. Even in cases of fraud, the bank takes steps to protect its clients.
To suggest that this is happening all at once sounds more like a rumor,” he said.
He also addressed frequent complaints on social media about second-tier banks blocking accounts of customers with overdue loans.
"Such actions are outlined in the terms of service. When a client defaults, banks may suspend transactions to recover the debt. However, accounts are not fully frozen—funds necessary for essential needs must remain accessible," Sholpankulov explained.
He added that the Senate is currently reviewing initiatives to regulate such issues, emphasizing that clients are expected to comply with contract terms and, when needed, go through official resolution channels.
Previously, the National Bank published a warning about fraudulent schemes using fake or hacked personal accounts of users in instant messengers.