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Success Story

Group-IB x Xalq Banki Success Story

How Uzbekistan’s oldest bank protects its name and customers in the digital age
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About Xalq Banki

For over 150 years, Xalq Banki, Uzbekistan’s oldest and largest commercial bank, has been a financial partner trusted by millions of customers. It serves nearly half the population of Uzbekistan and most SMEs in the country, plays a vital role in government social programs, is used for managing the national pension system, and helps finance key sectors of the economy.

Country

Uzbekistan

Industry

Finance

Year founded

1875

Annual customer reach

48% of the country’s population

Website

https://xb.uz/

Background

As part of its transformation strategy, developed with the Asian Development Bank, Xalq Banki set out to improve customer experience, modernize its digital channels, and strengthen risk management. Yet expanding its digital footprint also brought more risk: phishing websites, fake social media profiles, scam messenger channels, and rogue mobile apps, all exploiting the Xalq Banki name to deceive its customers.

To protect its brand, customers, and business, the bank needed a comprehensive solution to monitor its digital presence and respond to threats swiftly and effectively.

Initial pain points

Limited visibility into brand misuse across websites, social media, app stores, and messaging platforms
Growing volume of phishing and impersonation scams targeting customers and executives
Proliferation of fake Telegram and social media accounts abusing the brand
Lack of tools allowing for real-time detection or taking down threats

Why Group-IB?

Group-IB is a global leader in digital threat protection with a strong presence in Central Asia. Its Digital Crime Resistance Center in Tashkent, opened in 2023, is staffed by local experts who are deeply familiar with regional cyber risks and able to respond quickly.

Xalq Banki also valued Group-IB’s experience with the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, the flexible SaaS-based deployment of Digital Risk Protection, and the cybersecurity company’s proven expertise in defending high-profile brands.

 

Solution of choice

Xalq Banki implemented Group-IB Digital Risk Protection in order to be able to monitor its digital footprint around the clock and quickly detect and remove phishing sites, fake accounts, scam apps, and impersonation channels. The solution gave the bank complete visibility into its external risks and the ability to act proactively.

For a bank like ours, with deep roots in Uzbekistan’s history and a name that millions of customers trust, reputation is everything. As we expand into more digital channels, protecting that trust becomes more and more critical. Group-IB’s Digital Risk Protection has given us the visibility, expertise, and response speed we needed to stay ahead of fraudsters and secure our brand online. Their team’s professionalism and the results speak for themselves.
Sherzod Kalandarov
Sherzod Kalandarov
Deputy Director of the Department for Security and Information Protection at the Central Office at Xalq Banki

Outcomes

In just three months (April to June 2025), Digital Risk Protection detected 268 instances of brand abuse, including phishing websites, fake social media accounts, fraudulent mobile apps, and impersonation accounts on messaging platforms. Nearly all violations involved abuse of the bank’s registered trademarks.

Eliminated

204 violations

Blocked

46 fake social media accounts

Identified and removed from app stores

23 rogue mobile apps

Disabled

88 fraudulent messenger accounts

Elapsed from detection to takedown of the first phishing website

20 hours

Digital Risk Protection met all of Xalq Banki’s expectations. Its quick deployment allowed the bank to secure its brand and protect its customers in a very short time. The bank’s employees highlighted several key outcomes:

Full visibility into digital threats. Digital Risk Protection enabled 24/7 monitoring of the bank’s brand across all digital channels and ensured that abuse was detected promptly.
Proactive threat mitigation. More than 65% of violations were resolved within days, preventing harm to customers and the bank’s reputation.
Customer protection across digital points of touch. Dozens of fake social media and messenger accounts, along with fraudulent apps, were removed.
Fast response to emerging threats. The first phishing website was eliminated in less than 24 hours, demonstrating the bank’s high level of preparedness.
Stronger customer trust. Thanks to Group-IB’s local team in Central Asia and transparent reporting, Xalq Banki enhanced its image as a responsible and secure financial institution.
We are proud to support Xalq Banki in its mission to protect customers and uphold the trust in a brand recognized and valued by millions. Our team in Tashkent remains ready to provide local expertise and help the bank stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
Nariman Kapkaev
Nariman Kapkaev
Head of TI, ASM, DRP, Central Asia at Group-IB

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