Octobank’s Mahalla Banker: How Local Support Works
Octobank continues to help residents of the Nurliyo‘l mahalla in the Bektemir district unlock their entrepreneurial potential under the “Mahalla Banker” project. The Octobank team spent a day with local banker Abdugulom Akhmedov and is sharing examples of close community collaboration in implementing business initiatives.
The workday of a mahalla banker begins at the committee office, where he plans tasks and develops support programs and financial services for residents. Together with mahalla agent Aziza Khudoyberdiyeva and representatives of the local hokimiyat (district administration), he makes daily rounds through the streets to identify the most pressing needs of citizens.
Below are examples of projects successfully implemented on the ground:
Assisting with bank card issuance — Pensioner Ugila opa Kuchkarova from the Nurliyo‘l mahalla received assistance in opening a bank card account. The card was delivered directly to her home, issued based on a copy of her passport, and she received practical guidance on using the card, including tips on protecting herself from online fraud.
Helping a farmer access cashless payments — Farmer Bahodir aka Jumanov, whose main source of income is agriculture, urgently needed a bank card. Given that his farm work demands most of his time and energy, and that cashless transactions are essential for his business, the mahalla banker arranged for a “home delivery” bank card service so he could obtain one without leaving his property.
Supporting a seamstress in expanding her business — Seamstress and women’s clothing shop owner Zulaykho Ikramova also runs her business in the Nurliyo‘l mahalla. She needed additional equipment to grow her enterprise. Through a loan of 10 million soums under the “Every Family is an Entrepreneur” program, she purchased a sewing machine and an overlock machine.
Abdugulom Akhmedov emphasized that Octobank is always by the citizens’ side, ready to provide the necessary assistance, make life in the mahalla easier, and ensure important services are more accessible.
