Crowd crush at Otbasy Bank as Umai women's mortgage applications open

A video has circulated on social media showing a crowd of people pushing toward the entrance of an Otbasy Bank branch on the day applications opened for the Umai women's mortgage program, infohub.kz reports.

The footage of the crush outside the bank branch was posted by the Instagram account ipoteka_sunkar. The video's caption tags Otbasy Bank and Umai.

Otbasy Bank's press service told a NUR.KZ correspondent that applications and loan disbursements under the Umai program are being processed as tranches from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) arrive.

"On November 3, 2026, applications opened for the second tranche, worth 20 billion tenge. By 11:30 a.m., 300 applications had already been received. Applications are reviewed in the order they are submitted. Interest in the program stems from its terms: no competitive selection, a reduced down payment, the option to buy housing on either the primary or secondary market, and no requirement that applicants not already own a home. All applications undergo the standard eligibility check against the program's conditions," the bank said.

The press service added that applications can be submitted online through the Video Service, through Otbasy Bank consultants, or at a branch.

"On the day applications opened, the bank's services came under very heavy load, as a result of which some clients experienced delays when seeking consultations and submitting documents. The bank is taking measures to stabilize its services. Applications are still being accepted, including through branches, consultants and the video service," the press service added.

The bank also recalled that applications for the first tranche (9 billion tenge) opened on August 31, 2026. As of November 3, 2026, 96% of the first tranche's funds had been used, with 435 loans issued totaling 8.6 billion tenge.

Earlier reports noted that the second stage of applications for the Umai women's mortgage program would begin in Kazakhstan on November 3. Under the program, applicants can take out a housing loan of up to 50 million tenge.