Eldik Bank has launched the El.Kalkan cybersecurity project

"Eldik Bank" has launched the El.Kalkan cybersecurity project as one of the key development areas for 2025. The project's launch is associated with the implementation of a strategic development vector towards customer centricity and increasing the level of reliability and transparency. It is also driven by the increasing number of fraud cases in the sector at the national and international levels. To mark the launch of a significant social project for both the Bank's clients and the industry as a whole, a press briefing was held jointly with the Union of Banks of the Kyrgyz Republic. The first component of the El.Kalkan project, implemented on the basis of the Bank's innovative Project Office, is the "Self-Ban on Credit" service. According to Tatiana Shakhin, Head of the Project Office, Eldik Bank is the first in the country to pilot this mechanism to protect its clients from credit fraud in connection with the launch of several online lending solutions. Thanks to the "self-ban" tool, the bank's clients can now, through a mobile application, in one click, set a ban on issuing loans in their name, and later - in the name of their children or parents. If necessary, they can also easily restore the ability to receive online loans. The service is planned to be improved to several versions based on feedback from clients. "Eldik Bank has entered an active phase of digital transformation, and we understand that in addition to the enormous opportunities, digitalization brings challenges and risks," noted Ulan Nogaev, Chairman of the Management Board of Eldik Bank, at the press event. "As a reliable partner of the state in the implementation of the digital agenda and innovations, this year we are laying the trend for the introduction of specific measures, digital products and solutions for cyber protection for our clients. We are also initiating intra-bank sectoral solutions in partnership with the Union of Banks of the Kyrgyz Republic, as we recognize the urgent need to join efforts in the new paradigm of sector development in order to increase the effectiveness of protecting our citizens from cyber fraud. Self-regulation and collaboration of financial players in cybersecurity issues today seem to be the most effective step in the context of the growing fraud situation. And we call on the financial sector to pool resources within the framework of cybersecurity challenges. This approach will make it possible to increase the efficiency and scale of countermeasures for citizens, as well as optimize investments. We believe that in matters of cybersecurity, banks should not be competitors. We can build the reputation of the sector's reliability together." At the press briefing, Ulanbek Nogaev and President of the Union of Banks of the Kyrgyz Republic Anvar Abdraev called on representatives of the financial sector to consider the start of active cooperation in terms of data exchange based on open standards for the formation of a decentralized risk management system in the sector. They also called for moving to the stage of active implementation of the initiatives of the developed Concept for countering fraud by members of the Union of Banks of the Kyrgyz Republic. Eldik Bank announced its readiness to take the lead in initiatives for data exchange on self-bans, as well as black and gray lists under the "Anti-Fraud" system as part of the second component of the El.Kalkan project. "In light of the active discussions in the country about the need to take concrete measures and move to the active phase of action in the direction of protection against fraud, the Union of Banks calls on financial institutions to join the Kalkan cyber initiative to implement the developed anti-fraud concept, as well as the initiatives proposed by Eldik Bank for self-regulation through data exchange on the self-ban mechanism and other specific solutions," commented Anvar Abdraev, President of the Union of Banks of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the press conference. "We actively support the launch of specific digital cybersecurity solutions, as exemplified by Eldik Bank. It is time to move from simply informational campaigns warning citizens to actions and solutions from the financial sector. The platform of the Union of Banks is open for joint initiatives; we invite everyone interested and emphasize to our members the transition to an active stage of action."

Eldik Bank also announced the third component of the project – a pilot implementation of a cyber threat intelligence system aimed at minimizing near-bank and external risks for clients. The system is a unique international solution and allows for the development of an action plan to reduce the threat of fraud with citizens' personal data in the public segment of the Internet, as well as in closed networks (Darknet, DeepNet). As part of the pilot, as noted at the press conference by Taalaybek uulu Joomart, Head of the Bank's Information Security Service, in the first days of testing alone, 30 incidents related to data leaks from clients' devices were identified. The detected leaks can be used in social engineering schemes, fraud, and cyberattacks, including those indirectly involving banking services. Bank clients with identified cases of data leaks from their devices have currently been provided with personalized recommendations to enhance data protection and prevent further compromise.