Kyrgyz Republic - Methods of PaymentKyrgyz Republic - Methods of Payment
Most imports are paid for in cash and cash transfers in advance. Letters of credit are uncommon in the Kyrgyz Republic, but can be obtained through most banks. Credit cards are common in Bishkek and Osh, but rare outside of the cities. Nearly all business is done in cash and large transactions are usually in U.S. dollars, but Kyrgyz government incentives have been fairly successful in increasing the number of non-cash transactions. Online and kiosk-based payment systems for both government and private sector utilities and services continue to increase in popularity. In April 2016, legislation requiring all prices be denominated in som came into effect. Enforcement to this point has been weak, so the impact of the law is still unclear.