Kazakhstan banking

Kaspi plans an expansion into Ukraine, friendly elite provide a banking license.

A bank close to Nazarbayev buys a competitor, while smaller lenders continue to fall. 

The group that owns Kazakhstan's third-largest bank sold around $1 billion in shares in the London Stock Exchange. 

Three smaller banks in Kazakhstan will decide about a merger this month; meanwhile, large players are poised for changes too.

Kazakhstan's Central Bank stripped Astana Banki's license, while Tsesnabank benefited from a government reshuffle.

After buying out its main competitor, Kazakhstan's largest lender could plan to establish a subsidiary in Uzbekistan.

Strongly criticized by the president, some small banks in Kazakhstan are asking for help from the state to withstand a liquidity crisis.

After two expected mergers failed, Kazakhstan's banking sector remains profoundly unbalanced, with the Halyk-Qazkom tandem as a hegemon.

After lengthy negotiations, Halyk Bank bought out Qazkom, partially helped by the government's decision to shoulder some of Qazkom's toxic assets.

Aftershocks of the crisis continue to rock the country's financial sector after a buyout and rumors of another merger.

With a major merger pending, Kazakh banks are rapidly restructuring, getting ready for tougher competition.