Instruction on the Provision of Individual Bank Safes for Value Storage by Commercial Banks of the Kyrgyz Republic to Clients

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Creation date: 2026-01-28

Approved

by the resolution of the Board of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic

dated September 12, 2012 No. 37/2

INSTRUCTION

on the provision by commercial banks of the Kyrgyz Republic to clients of individual bank safes for the storage of valuables

(In the edition of resolutions of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated October 23, 2013 No. 39/6, February 10, 2016 No. 7/2, May 17, 2017 No. 19/10, August 14, 2019 No. 2019-P-12/42-1, December 14, 2022 No. 2022-P-12/78-8, June 14, 2023 No. 2023-P-12/38-4, December 8, 2023 No. 2023-P-12/76-1, December 19, 2025 No. 2025-P-12/68-2-(NPA))

I. General Provisions

1. This Instruction is developed in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic and establishes the procedure for commercial banks of the Kyrgyz Republic to provide clients with individual bank safes for the storage of valuables (hereinafter - safe).

The purpose of this Instruction is to establish minimum requirements for a commercial bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter - bank) regarding the operational regime for safes.

In order to minimize risks such as operational, legal risks, and reputational risks, the bank must have an internal control and audit system commensurate with the complexity and scale of the bank's operations, as well as regularly conduct training (e.g., briefing) for bank employees responsible for providing safes for individual use.

2. A commercial bank providing clients with safes for individual use is obliged to develop corresponding internal regulatory documents (policy or procedure), which must be approved by the bank's relevant governing bodies (Board of Directors or Management Board, depending on the document's status). These bank documents must stipulate and specify all conditions and main provisions regulating the procedure for providing safes and maintaining related documentation. The bank's regulatory documents must comply with the requirements of the National Bank set forth in this Instruction.

3. The bank must have tariffs for services for providing safes for individual use, approved by the relevant governing body of the bank.

4. Pursuant to the storage agreement for valuables in an individual bank safe concluded with the client, the bank is responsible for the safety and integrity of the safe itself, creating conditions ensuring secure storage, and maintaining confidentiality.

To ensure the safety of valuables in safes and control access to them, safes must be located in a separate specially designated bank room that is not the bank's cash vault (hereinafter - safe deposit vault), which must provide appropriate conditions for storing valuables in the safe and be equipped with a video surveillance system and access control to the safes.

In the event that the client's work area with valuables stored in the safe falls within the video surveillance zone for safes, the bank must warn the client about the presence of the video surveillance system. Such warning must be in the form of a clearly visible notice or stand.

5. When providing a safe to a client, the bank is not entitled to inventory the contents of the safe, nor shall any employees, members of the Management Board, or Board of Directors of the bank have access to the contents of the client's safe, except in cases provided for by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic and the storage agreement for valuables in an individual bank safe between the bank and the client.

5-1. The bank is recommended to pay special attention to issues of interaction and assistance to clients with disabilities when providing them with a safe, including regarding:

• etiquette rules when communicating with the client;
• rules for accompanying the client when a bank employee and the client perform necessary operations within the framework of service;
• application of accessible measures for the most comfortable service;
• communicating directly with the client, not with their companion, if the client has not chosen another method of communication;
• minimizing stress factors during the process and providing full (detailed) explanation of the bank's client service procedures.

(In the edition of the resolution of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated December 8, 2023 No. 2023-P-12/76-1)

II. Procedure for Concluding a Storage Agreement for Valuables in an Individual Bank Safe

6. Providing a safe to a client for individual use is carried out only after concluding a storage agreement between the bank and the client (hereinafter - storage agreement).

To conclude a storage agreement, clients must present, at a minimum, the following documents:

1. for individuals:

a) an application for storage of valuables in a safe, signed by the client, which must contain:

• surname, first name, patronymic of the client (in accordance with passport data), maiden name (if any);
• date and place of birth;
• citizenship;
• full address of residence and registration, phone number, fax, email address;
• information on the identity document (name, series, issuing authority, date of issue), personal identification number;
• place of work and occupation;
• Full Name of the beneficial owner;
• other information at the bank's discretion, not contradicting the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic;

b) original identity documents of the client and authorized persons (if any), on paper or in digital format obtained from state information systems operating under a power of attorney, for identity verification and copying;

c) power of attorney for access to the safe by the client's authorized person (if any), executed in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic;

d) copy of the identity document of the beneficial owner, on paper or in digital format obtained from state information systems, if they are not a client;

e) card with specimen signatures and seal impression of an individual entrepreneur (for individuals conducting individual entrepreneurial activity without forming a legal entity), certified in the manner established by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic;

f) copy of a document of established form issued by an authorized body confirming the fact of state registration (re-registration) as an individual entrepreneur, or a copy of a document confirming the fact of conducting entrepreneurial activity without state registration, in cases provided for by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic (for individuals conducting individual entrepreneurial activity without forming a legal entity);

2. for legal entities:

a) an application for storage of valuables in a safe, signed by persons indicated in the specimen signature card, which must contain:

• full and abbreviated (if any) name of the legal entity;
• data on state registration of the legal entity: date, number, name of the registering authority, place of registration, location, postal address;
• contact phone and fax numbers;
• type of activity of the legal entity;
• Full Name of the beneficial owner;
• other information at the bank's discretion;

b) identity document of the client's authorized persons, on paper or in digital format obtained from state information systems (if any) (original is submitted to the bank, from which a copy is made);

c) power of attorney for access to the safe by the client's authorized person (if any), executed in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic;

d) copy of the identity document of the beneficial owner, on paper or in digital format obtained from state information systems, if they are not a client;

e) card with specimen signatures and seal impression, certified in the manner established by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic;

f) constituent documents depending on the organizational-legal form of the organization;

g) other documents at the bank's discretion, not contradicting the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

When concluding a storage agreement for valuables in an individual bank safe with a client, the bank must familiarize the client with the bank's internal procedure regulating the operation with safes. During the briefing, it must be brought to the client's attention that video surveillance is conducted in the safe deposit vault to ensure the safety of valuables in the safe. In the event that the client's work area with valuables stored in the safe falls within the video surveillance zone, the client must be warned about this.

When serving a client with visual or hearing impairments, the bank must, at the client's request, provide audio playback/sign language interpretation of the text of the storage agreement for valuables in an individual bank safe and other documents signed by the client. A client unable to independently sign due to existing impairments may use a facsimile signature in the storage agreement for valuables in an individual bank safe and other documents signed by the client, subject to the requirements of the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Note. For storage agreements concluded before the entry into force of this Instruction and currently in effect, the bank must obtain information on the Full Name of the beneficial owner, as well as a copy of the identity document of the beneficial owner, on paper or in digital format obtained from state information systems, if they are not a client.

(In the edition of resolutions of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated October 23, 2013 No. 39/6, August 14, 2019 No. 2019-P-12/42-1, June 14, 2023 No. 2023-P-12/38-4, December 8, 2023 No. 2023-P-12/76-1)

7. The standard form of the storage agreement is developed in accordance with the requirements of this Instruction and the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic and is approved by the authorized body of the bank.

A bank client is not entitled to transfer their rights and powers under the storage agreement to third parties without proper documentation.

The storage agreement must, at a minimum, include the following clauses:

• information about the client indicated in the application for storage of valuables in a safe signed by the client;
• safe number;
• date of conclusion of the storage agreement;
• term of the storage agreement;
• liability and obligations of the parties, including in cases of non-performance of the conditions of this storage agreement;
• cost of the bank's services for providing safes, including conditions for reimbursement of expenses to the bank in case of damage during the use of the safe;
• conditions for access to the client's safe in case of untimely payment of the bank's services for providing the safe and the size of the penalty for untimely payment of this bank service;
• list of items prohibited for storage in safes;
• conditions, rights, and obligations agreed upon by the parties, including upon termination of the storage agreement, in case of the client's failure to appear after the expiration of the storage term or in the event of force majeure circumstances;
• conditions for access to the safe by the client's authorized persons (if any), acting under a power of attorney executed in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic, if permitted by the bank;
• details of the power of attorney for access to the safe by the client's authorized persons (if any), executed in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic;
• procedure for opening the safe in case the client loses the safe key or forgets the combination lock;
• procedure for dispute resolution;
• signatures of the parties, and if the client is a legal entity or individual entrepreneur, certified with a seal;
• information that video surveillance is conducted in the safe deposit vault to ensure the safety of valuables in the safe;
• in the event that the client's work area with valuables stored in the safe falls within the video surveillance zone, a note must be made that the client has been warned about this and agrees, attested by their signature;
• other conditions at the discretion of the bank and the client, not contradicting the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

8. The bank must, in the storage agreement, mandatory indicate the following list of items prohibited for storage in safes:

• flammable, toxic, radioactive, and other substances capable of adversely affecting the human body and the environment, food products, and other items subject to spoilage or causing the spread of parasites;
• all types of firearms and ammunition for them, cold weapons, explosive substances (explosive devices), including scientific and technical technologies and equipment that can be used in the creation of weapons of mass destruction;
• narcotic and psychotropic substances, as well as devices for their use;
• highly potent poisons;
• and other items prohibited for storage, withdrawn from civil circulation, or whose import/export is prohibited across the state border according to the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

9. The bank must obtain written confirmation from the client that the client is familiar with the list of items prohibited for storage in safes and is warned that responsibility for storing prohibited items in the bank's safe, as specified in paragraph 8 of this Instruction, is fully borne by the client in accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

10. In order to counter the financing of criminal activities and the legalization (money laundering) of criminal proceeds, the bank must conduct a procedure for identifying and verifying the client and their authorized persons (if any) in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic. The bank is not entitled to provide a safe to a client anonymously and without identifying the client, their authorized persons (if any), and indicating information about the beneficial owner.

In the event that the operations of the client, their authorized persons, or beneficial owner fall under the signs of suspicious operations according to the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic, the bank has the right to demand from these persons the provision of any documents and information necessary for the bank to monitor their operations, in order to counter the financing of criminal activities and the legalization (money laundering) of criminal proceeds. At the same time, the bank is obliged to send a report on a suspicious operation (transaction) to the financial intelligence agency. The client must provide the bank with the aforementioned documents/information and notify the bank in writing of any changes to the information and documents previously provided for identification.

(In the edition of resolutions of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated October 23, 2013 No. 39/6, February 10, 2016 No. 7/2, August 14, 2019 No. 2019-P-12/42-1, December 19, 2025 No. 2025-P-12/68-2-(NPA))

11. When a client provides an incomplete package of documents or if they contain unreliable information that does not allow for the identification and verification of the client and their authorized persons (if any), as well as in the event that there is reliable information about their participation in terrorist and extremist activities, legalization (money laundering) of criminal proceeds, financing of organized groups or criminal communities, or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the bank has the right to refuse to provide a safe to the client for storing valuables.

In this case, the bank must immediately send a message about this fact to the financial intelligence agency in accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

(In the edition of resolutions of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated February 10, 2016 No. 7/2, August 14, 2019 No. 2019-P-12/42-1, December 19, 2025 No. 2025-P-12/68-2-(NPA))

12. The bank is not entitled to provide a safe to a client for use without proper documentation of the storage agreement.

13. The storage agreement is drawn up in no less than two copies in the state language and, if necessary, in the official language. One copy of the storage agreement remains with the bank, the other is transferred to the client.

(In the edition of the resolution of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated December 8, 2023 No. 2023-P-12/76-1)

14. After concluding a storage agreement with the client, the responsible bank employee must:

• hand over the safe key to the client, for which the client must confirm receipt of the keys by indicating their quantity with their signature in the Client Safe Usage Card;
• form a client dossier, which must contain all documents related to the bank's provision of safe storage services for valuables to this client. The dossier must be updated with other documents as the scope of safe use services expands;
• fill out the Client Safe Usage Card.

15. The Client Safe Usage Card (hereinafter - Card) must indicate, at a minimum, the following:

• safe number;
• information about the client and authorized persons (if any);
• number and date of the storage agreement;
• client's signature confirming receipt of keys with indication of their quantity;
• date and time of entry and exit from the vault, signatures of the client or their authorized persons (if any) and the bank employee;
• cases of overdue payment for safe storage with indication of the date of client notification;
• note on the loss of the safe key in case of loss by the client;
• date and time of the client's return of the safe;
• client's signature confirming the absence of claims to the bank when returning the safe after the expiration of the term or early termination of the storage agreement by the client;
• signature of the bank employee attesting the client's signature;
• other conditions not contradicting the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

III. Procedure for Using the Safe

16. The bank must ensure the client and/or their authorized persons (if any) (hereinafter - client) the opportunity to use the safe in accordance with this Instruction and the conditions of the storage agreement concluded with the client.

The client's access to the safe is carried out during the period established by the bank in accordance with the bank's safe operating regime.

17. The bank must suspend the client's access to the safe in the cases and manner provided for by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic and the bank's internal regulatory documents. In this case, the bank is obliged to make the corresponding entry in the Card.

18. The client's access to the safe is possible if the client has the safe key (in case of a mechanical lock), the original identity document, on paper or in digital format obtained from state information systems, and, if necessary, other documents confirming their authority to use this safe, as well as upon compliance by the parties with the conditions of the storage agreement not contradicting the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

(In the edition of the resolution of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated June 14, 2023 No. 2023-P-12/38-4)

19. Each client access to the safe is permitted by a responsible bank employee after their identification and must be registered in the Journal of Registration of Use of Individual Bank Safes (hereinafter - Journal) (Appendix 1 to this Instruction) and in the Card with indication of the date and time of safe use (client's entry and exit from the vault). At the same time, the signatures of the client and their authorized persons (if any) are placed only in the Card, and the responsible bank employee's signature is placed in both the Card and the Journal.

20. The client's access to the bank's safe deposit vault is carried out under the escort of a responsible bank employee.

21. Each safe must be equipped with lock(s):

• with 2 mechanical keys, of which 1 is handed to the client and 1 remains with the bank, or
• with 1 mechanical key, which is handed to the client, or
• with a combination lock.

If the opening/closing of the safe requires the participation of a bank employee, the bank employee must secure the lock in the closed position, remove and hand over the key to the client for the duration of viewing the safe contents. Thus, the responsible bank employee must be present when the client closes the safe to ensure that the number of the closed safe corresponds to the number of the safe that was opened by the client.

22. If the bank's safe is equipped with a lock with 1 mechanical key, which is handed to the client, the bank must replace this lock each time after the client returns the safe.

(In the edition of the resolution of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated October 23, 2013 No. 39/6)

23. A bank employee must not be present in the safe deposit vault during the client's use of the safe. The bank guarantees the client confidentiality during the viewing of valuables stored in the safe, and must also maintain confidentiality of information obtained during the provision of the safe to the client, including the fact of storage itself. Obtained data shall not be disclosed to third parties except in cases provided for by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

24. After the client finishes using the safe and the safe is closed, the responsible bank employee together with the client must check the area where the client inspected the safe contents to ensure that the client has not left any valuables and to verify the correctness of the client's closing of the safe.

25. The bank must not take custody of the client's safe keys, and in the event of using a safe with a combination lock, must not know the lock code.

26. If the client forgets the combination code or loses the safe key, the bank must organize measures to open the safe only in the presence of the client.

27. If it is necessary to open the safe in the absence of the client, then:

a) the process must be attested by three witnesses:

1. an authorized bank employee who must remove and declare (list) the contents of the safe;
2. an authorized bank employee who must draw up an inventory of the safe contents;
3. an authorized bank employee who must record the removed items stored in the safe using photo/video equipment;

b) the contents of the safe must be inventoried, packaged, and in sealed form placed for storage in the bank's safe deposit vault under double control with all documents and recordings preserved. The storage period, as well as the subsequent acquisition of ownership rights to the safe contents, is determined in accordance with the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

28. A seizure on items stored in the safe may be imposed on the basis of a court decision.

When imposing a seizure on items stored at the bank, all outgoing operations for the transfer of items are immediately suspended.

Opening, search, inspection, seizure, and the carrying out of other procedural actions regarding items stored in the safe may be conducted by investigative bodies on opened criminal cases exclusively on the basis of a court decision.

Opening, search, inspection, seizure, and the carrying out of other procedural actions regarding items stored in the safe, as well as the imposition of a seizure on these items, are carried out in the presence of authorized bank employees in accordance with legislation and the bank's internal documents. At the same time, an inventory of the safe contents is drawn up, which must be signed by the attending bank employees, and video recording of the process of opening, search, inspection, or seizure, as well as other procedural actions regarding items stored in the safe, must be conducted.

(In the edition of resolutions of the Board of the National Bank of the KR dated May 17, 2017 No. 19/10, December 14, 2022 No. 2022-P-12/78-8)

IV. Procedure for Returning the Safe by the Client

29. In the event that the safe is out of order, the bank is obliged to mark this safe accordingly, remove the lock from the safe, and leave the safe in an open position, while the number of the non-working safe and the reasons for the breakdown must be indicated in the bank's corresponding documents.

30. After the expiration of the term or early termination of the storage agreement by the client, the client is obliged to return the safe keys to the bank with a mandatory entry in the Card, confirming this with the client's signature that:

• valuables stored in the safe have been received in full;
• no claims regarding the safety of valuables