–On August 23, the ABB Davr project was officially
launched with the participation of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and
Uzbekistan. The key question many people are interested in now is:
when will the bank begin operating under the ABB Davr
brand?


–Yes, August 23 became a historic day for us. With the
participation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham
Aliyev, and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat
Mirziyoyev, the ABB Davr project was officially
launched. The President of Azerbaijan described this event
as the entry of a leading Azerbaijani bank into the Uzbek market.
For us, this is both a great source of pride and a great
responsibility.


We would like to express our gratitude to the Presidents
of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan for their strong support for this
project. We would also like to thank the government
institutions of both countries that have supported us throughout
all stages of the project implementation – including the central
banks, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the
Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of
Uzbekistan, as well as the Committee for Development of Competition
and Protection of Consumer Rights of the Republic of
Uzbekistan.


Prior to the official launch of the project, all
necessary approvals had been obtained and the share
purchase agreement had already been signed. At the next stage, in
accordance with the legislation and procedures stipulated by the
agreement, the legal transfer of ownership rights to the shares
will be completed and the relevant changes will be made to the
shareholders’ register. Once this process is completed,
Bank ABB will become the main shareholder of Davr Bank. We expect
this process to be finalized within the next 7–10
days.


Operations under the ABB Davr brand will begin
immediately after the completion of the official procedures related
to changing the bank’s name. believe that we will see the ABB Davr
brand already around October.


–How will the rebranding process take
place?


–First of all, we will begin with corporate communications and
digital channels. The transition of branches, ATMs, cards, and
other physical customer touchpoints to the ABB Davr brand will be
carried out gradually. This is exactly the approach outlined in our
transition plan.


Our goal is not simply to change the name and signage, but to
bring to Uzbekistan the service quality, technologies, innovations,
and institutional expertise that stand behind the ABB brand.


–Why did you choose Davr Bank specifically to enter the
Uzbek market?


–We were looking for a bank and a platform on the basis of which
we could create even greater value. During our search, we carefully
studied the history of Davr Bank, its operations, products and
services, partnerships, and international relations. We concluded
that the bank meets our criteria in many aspects, including its
development dynamics, international connections, service network,
customer segments, and sustainable high growth rates.


Today, Davr Bank has more than 2 million customers, over
1,800 employees, and 43 branches and service centers in the capital
and regions. Its assets exceed 2 billion manats. The bank
plays an active role in financing small and medium-sized
businesses.


For us, the numbers were not the only important factor.
The partnership approach was equally important. At
Davr Bank, we saw a strong foundation, an effective business model,
a capable team, and a partner that shares our vision and is moving
in the same direction. Our views with the existing shareholders and
the bank’s team regarding its future and further development
priorities were largely aligned.


Davr Bank is not simply a platform for entering a new market. It
is an established Uzbek bank with a strong team, customer base, and
deep understanding of the local market. Our task is to further
develop this foundation by combining Davr Bank’s local market
knowledge, team, and existing strengths with Bank ABB’s capital,
technologies, and institutional expertise.


–What kind of bank will ABB Davr become?


–Our ambitions are clear. We want ABB Davr to be, first
and foremost, an Uzbek bank – one that is close to local customers
and entrepreneurs, while at the same time leveraging international
experience, modern technologies, and the capabilities of a larger
financial group. ABB Davr will be a universal bank serving
individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as
corporate clients. We see particularly strong potential in such
areas as working with small and medium-sized businesses, digital
banking, payments, documentary operations, and corporate
financing.







At the same time, over time we aim to adapt to the Uzbek market
our successfully developed Beyond Banking
experience from Azerbaijan.


I would like to emphasize one very important point here.
We do not intend to simply transfer Bank ABB’s model in
Azerbaijan to the Uzbek market in an unchanged form.
Banking is largely a local business. The Uzbek market is large,
dynamic, and has its own unique characteristics. Taking this into
account, we will adapt our products and services to the needs and
behavior of local customers, as well as to the specific
characteristics of the market.


That is why the needs of Uzbek customers, market specifics, and
the knowledge and experience of the local team are of fundamental
importance to us. We will combine Bank ABB’s technologies and
expertise with these local insights and competencies.


–What contribution can ABB Davr make to the development
of economic relations between Azerbaijan and
Uzbekistan?


–More than 470 companies with Azerbaijani
capital are registered in Uzbekistan,
while Azerbaijan has more than 130 companies with Uzbek
capital. These figures alone demonstrate that a strong
business ecosystem has already been established between the two
countries. As mutual trade and investment continue to grow, the
demand of these companies for financial services is also
increasing.


ABB Davr can become a financial bridge for this
ecosystem. Settlement services, trade finance, documentary
operations, as well as financing of new business and investment
projects, will create additional opportunities in this area.


At the same time, ABB Davr will first and foremost be a
local bank serving the Uzbek market and Uzbek customers.
We intend to make a real contribution to the country’s economic
development, support entrepreneurship, and particularly foster the
growth of small and medium-sized businesses.


–What is the strategic significance of this project for
Bank ABB?


–This is the first major step toward achieving the goal
of geographical expansion outlined in Bank ABB’s 2026–2028
development strategy. It is especially important for us that we are
beginning this journey with our brotherly Uzbekistan.


As the ABB Financial Group, we will now serve around 5.5
million customers, while the potential audience we can reach will
increase from approximately 10 million to 50 million
people.


However, I would not measure the significance of this project
solely by numbers. We are bringing not only capital to Uzbekistan.
We are also exporting the knowledge, experience, and solutions that
we have developed in Azerbaijan over recent years. We will have the
opportunity to apply our digital solutions, artificial intelligence
models, risk management approaches, corporate governance practices,
and the capabilities we have created in services beyond traditional
banking on a much larger scale.


Another strategic advantage is the effect of
scale. A larger customer base will allow us to invest more
in technology and artificial intelligence. Any digital solution or
AI model that we create in the future will be able to benefit
millions of customers across a much broader geography, rather than
being limited only to Azerbaijan.


There is another very important aspect here. This
project will transform not only Davr Bank, but Bank ABB
itself. For the first time, we will apply the banking
model we have developed in Azerbaijan across a broader geography,
acquire new competencies, and learn to operate as a regional
financial group.


In this sense, the ABB Davr project – represents the
expansion of Azerbaijan’s financial brand, technologies, and
banking expertise into a new international market.