In short: Suits those who need SWIFT transfers and a large universal bank. The main limits are in-person collection of an ordinary card and separate SWIFT fees for non-residents from 31 October 2026.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Limited
- Remote account opening
- Partly
- Visa / Mastercard
- Yes
- Russian-language support
- Yes
- Founded
- 1988 (according to the finratings.kz catalogue)
- Owner
- Private shareholders; current stakes are published by the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE)
- Size
- About 8.97 trillion KZT (finratings.kz catalogue, 16 October 2026)
- License
- Banking licence of the ARDFM
- App and website
- bcc.kz in Russian, Kazakh and English
- SWIFT transfers
- From the app in USD, RUB, GBP, EUR (per a review)
- New SWIFT fees for non-residents
- From 31 October 2026; the bank has not disclosed the amounts
- Card issue for eResidency participants
- Free until 1 July 2026, then at the bank's tariffs
- Card collection
- In person; cards are not issued by power of attorney
Pros
- The third-largest bank in the country
- A remote route for eResidency participants: a premium card is issued through the app
- SWIFT transfers from the app in USD, RUB, GBP and EUR
- App and website available in Russian
Cons and limits
- Ordinary cards are issued to non-residents in person
- Separate SWIFT fees for non-residents are introduced from 31 October 2026
- The bank no longer serves Mir cards
- Card fees for non-residents are hard to find on the website
## About the bank
According to the finratings.kz catalogue, Bank CenterCredit (BCC, brand bcc.kz) was founded in 1988 and is one of the three largest banks in the country, with assets of about 8.97 trillion KZT (catalogue data as of 16 October 2026). Korea's Kookmin Bank left the bank's capital back in 2017; today it is a private bank, and current shareholder stakes are published by the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange. The bank has a digital service, bcc plus, and its website and app work in Russian, Kazakh and English.
## Account for non-residents
An ordinary non-resident goes to a branch with an ID document and an IIN. The bank issues cards in person and does not allow collection by power of attorney. A foreigner gets an IIN at a public service centre (CON), as Kazakh embassies have stopped issuing it from 2026.
Remotely, the bank works with eResidency participants. They were offered a premium Mastercard Black Edition issued entirely through the bcc.kz app, free of charge until 1 July 2026. Russian citizens are served on the general terms for non-residents. Without a residence permit, a non-resident card was issued from January 2025 for no more than 12 months, with no more than five cards per client. The ARDFM decision of 21 September 2026 lifts these limits but takes effect 10 calendar days after its first official publication.
## Cards and payments
For eResidency participants there is the premium BCC Black Edition card on the Mastercard network. The bank's catalogue also includes the Iron and TravelCard products. Earlier materials say foreign-currency accounts in euros, dollars and roubles can be linked to them, but there are no current terms in open sources, so ask a manager.
The bank does not serve Mir. Its strong side is transfers: SWIFT payments in dollars, roubles, pounds and euros are available from the app. Rouble SWIFT matters to Russian citizens, but it works with far from all Russian banks.
## Who it suits
BCC is worth considering if you need a large bank with branches and a Russian-language app, plan regular SWIFT transfers and are ready to check the fees in advance, or are an eResidency participant who wants a premium card remotely. For multi-currency accounts, compare Freedom Bank Kazakhstan. For everyday tenge payments, Kaspi Bank is closer.
Frequently asked questions
Does BCC accept non-residents?
Yes, but on limited terms. You need an ID document with an IIN and must be present in person, because cards are issued in person and not by power of attorney. For eResidency participants the bank offered remote issue of a premium card through the app.
What changes for non-residents from 31 October 2026?
The bank introduces separate SWIFT transfer fees for clients who are not Kazakh residents. Kazakh citizens and foreigners with a residence permit stay on the previous fees. The bank did not name the new amounts in its announcement of 31 July 2026.
Does BCC serve Mir cards?
No. In 2022 the bank accepted Mir only from Russian banks not under sanctions, and now these cards are not served. For Mir, use VTB (Kazakhstan).
Can a SWIFT transfer be sent in roubles?
SWIFT transfers in USD, RUB, GBP and EUR are possible from the app. However, whether rouble transfers go through depends on the receiving bank, and many Russian banks under sanctions do not accept SWIFT.
How much did the card cost for eResidency participants?
Issue of the premium Mastercard Black Edition through the app was free until 1 July 2026. Now the bank's tariffs apply; check the current amount on bcc.kz.