THE IMPACT OF PAYMENT CARDS ON FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

The article analyzes the impact of the spread of payment cards on financial inclusion in the Kyrgyz Republic. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of payment cards in circulation, which contributes to improving the availability of financial services for the population, especially in remote and rural areas. Using data on the number of cards in different regions and types of payment cards, the article examines how this affects the expansion of financial opportunities, reducing barriers to access to banking products and services. Key factors such as the growth in the number of cards, the use of national and international payment systems, as well as differences in the availability of services in different regions of the country are considered.