In short: The bank is of interest for its ownership structure, but it is not a priority for non-residents and Russian citizens: there are no public terms. Check whether foreigners are accepted before going to a branch.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Check with the bank
- Remote account opening
- Check with the bank
- Visa / Mastercard
- Check with the bank
- Russian-language support
- Yes
- Shareholders (since April 2018)
- China CITIC Bank 50.1%, China Shuangwei Investment 9.9%, Halyk Bank 40%
- Founded
- 1998 (according to the finratings.kz catalogue)
- Size
- About 1.21 trillion KZT (finratings.kz catalogue, 16 October 2026)
- License
- Banking licence of the ARDFM
- Digital service
- Altyn-i
- Terms for non-residents
- Not officially published
Pros
- A Chinese controlling shareholder, China CITIC Bank
- The Altyn-i digital service
- A link with Halyk Bank through its 40% stake
Cons and limits
- Terms for non-residents are not published
- The bank was not among those that resumed issuing cards to foreigners in February 2025
- No data on Russian citizens or payment systems
## About the bank
Altyn Bank is a Kazakh bank controlled by China's CITIC Bank. Since April 2018 the ownership structure has been: China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited 50.1%, China Shuangwei Investment Co., Ltd 9.9% and Halyk Bank 40%. According to media reports, Timur and Dinara Kulibayev indirectly hold about 27.8% of the capital.
According to the finratings.kz catalogue, the bank was founded in 1998 and has assets of about 1.21 trillion KZT (catalogue data as of 16 October 2026). The digital business operates as Altyn-i, with the official address altyn-i.kz.
## Account for non-residents
No public terms for non-residents were found, and there is no data on Russian citizens. A Bizmedia review of February 2025 listing the banks that resumed issuing cards to foreigners does not mention this bank.
What can be said for certain: any foreigner opening an account will need a passport and a Kazakh IIN, and most banks also require a local phone number. The rest is up to the specific bank, and it should not be assumed without confirmation from the bank itself.
A practical order of steps:
- Get an IIN at a public service centre or through eResidency.
- Contact the bank before visiting and ask whether it serves foreign citizens.
- Without confirmation, choose a bank with public terms, such as Freedom Bank Kazakhstan or Kaspi Bank.
## Cards and payments
The bank does not single out specific card products for non-residents. Payment systems and fees for foreigners are not named in open sources. There is no information about Mir or the Faster Payments System (SBP), and Russian Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in Kazakhstan, so plan payments separately.
## Fees and limits
The bank does not publish fees for non-residents. Limits to keep in mind:
- terms for non-residents and Russian citizens are not published;
- there is no confirmed data on the card payment systems;
- the language of the Altyn-i app should be checked in advance.
## Who it suits
Altyn Bank is worth considering only after the terms are clarified, for example if you are connected with Chinese business or plan to work with CITIC group banks. For a typical expat who needs a card and an account, a bank with a clear procedure is a safer choice.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Altyn Bank?
A controlling stake of 50.1% belongs to China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited, 9.9% to China Shuangwei Investment and 40% to Halyk Bank. This structure has been in place since April 2018.
Does Altyn Bank open accounts for non-residents?
The bank has no public terms for non-residents. In February 2025 it was not mentioned among the banks that resumed issuing cards to foreigners. Check with the bank before visiting whether it accepts foreigners.
What is Altyn-i?
It is the bank's digital service. The app's languages and features for foreigners are best checked on the official website, altyn-i.kz.
Does Altyn Bank work with Mir cards?
There is no information about Mir. In practice, Mir in Kazakhstan is served only by VTB (Kazakhstan).