In short: Suits non-residents with an employment contract or a residence permit who want a large bank with published fees. The main limits are the strict grounds required to open an account and the lack of Mir.
Terms for non-residents
- Non-residents
- Limited
- Remote account opening
- No
- Visa / Mastercard
- Yes
- Russian-language support
- Yes
- Founded
- 1923 (according to the finratings.kz catalogue)
- Owner
- Controlling shareholders Timur and Dinara Kulibayev (indirectly, through Almex holding group); the rest of the shares and GDRs are in free float
- Size
- About 20.4 trillion KZT as of 31 December 2025
- License
- Banking licence of the ARDFM
- App
- Halyk SuperApp (Homebank) in the App Store, Google Play and AppGallery; website in Kazakh, Russian and English
- Halyk Bonus service
- Free for the first year, then 150 KZT a month; up to 3 active cards
- Halyk Bonus cash withdrawal
- Up to 700,000 KZT per day at ATMs, up to 1,000,000 KZT in the app
- Other incoming payments
- Up to 300,000 KZT a month can be withdrawn without a fee, above that 1%
- Retail customers
- 11.3 million active customers
Pros
- The largest bank in the country, with a developed network and app
- Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards
- Card fees are published on the official website
- The app is available in the App Store, Google Play and AppGallery
Cons and limits
- A non-resident usually needs an employment contract with a Kazakh company or a residence permit
- Mir cards have not been accepted since 21 September 2022
- Opening in a branch, with no remote route for ordinary non-residents
- The payment system of the Halyk Bonus card is not named on the product page
## About the bank
The People's Bank of Kazakhstan, or Halyk Bank, is the largest bank in the country. Its assets were about 20.4 trillion KZT at the end of 2025, and it had 11.3 million active retail customers (bank data for 2025). According to the finratings.kz catalogue, the bank's history goes back to 1923.
The controlling shareholders are Timur and Dinara Kulibayev, who hold shares indirectly through the Almex holding group; part of the shares is in free float, including as GDRs. Halyk also owns 40% of Altyn Bank. The website is available in Kazakh, Russian and English. The main digital product is Halyk SuperApp (Homebank), available in the App Store, Google Play and AppGallery.
## Account for non-residents
Halyk's terms for foreigners are stricter than those of Kaspi or Freedom Bank. A passport and an IIN are needed. In addition, according to the Digital Business review of 2026, a non-resident usually needs an employment contract with a Kazakh company, and according to the bank's call centre in February 2025 a card was issued at a branch to people with a residence permit.
There is no remote route for an ordinary foreigner: opening is done at a branch. If you have neither an employer contract nor a residence permit, first consider Bank RBK, which does not request such confirmation, or the eResidency route with Bank CenterCredit and Freedom Bank. There are no separate rules for Russian citizens: they go through the general checks for non-residents.
## Cards and payments
The main retail card for non-residents is Halyk Bonus, including the digital version Halyk Bonus Digital. UnionPay Diamond is listed separately among the bank's debit cards. Mir does not work at Halyk: since 21 September 2022 the bank's ATMs have not accepted cards of this system, and there is no confirmation of the Faster Payments System (SBP). The practical conclusion for Russian citizens is to carry tenge in cash or get a local card rather than rely on Russian cards.
## Who it suits
Halyk suits those who work in Kazakhstan under an employment contract or hold a residence permit, need a large bank with published fees and a convenient app, or are considering UnionPay. If you arrived for a short time and have no contract, look at Kaspi Bank or Bank RBK. For a Mir card, VTB (Kazakhstan).
Frequently asked questions
Does Halyk open an account for a Russian citizen?
Yes, but the terms are stricter than at several competitors. According to a Digital Business review of 8 June 2026, an employment contract with a Kazakh company is usually required; according to the bank's call centre, in February 2025 a card was issued if the person had a residence permit. The branch makes the final decision.
Does Mir work at Halyk ATMs?
No. Since 21 September 2022 Halyk ATMs have stopped accepting Mir cards. For such cards use VTB (Kazakhstan).
How much does Halyk Bonus cost?
According to the official card page, service is free for the first year and then costs 150 KZT a month (about 1,800 KZT a year). You can have up to three active cards.
Does Halyk issue UnionPay cards?
Yes, UnionPay Diamond is listed among the bank's debit cards. Check the terms for non-residents at a branch.
How big is Halyk?
It is the largest bank in the country, with assets of about 20.4 trillion KZT at the end of 2025. According to the bank's 2025 data, it has 11.3 million active retail customers.