IMPROVING THE APPLICATION OF BIG DATA TECHNOLOGIES IN THE DIGITALIZATION OF COMMERCIAL BANKS

Abstract

The article examines the role of Big Data technologies as a key driver of digital transformation in
the commercial banking sector of Uzbekistan. As remote banking services, card-based payments, and instant
payment systems continue to expand, commercial banks accumulate substantial volumes of transactional
and behavioural data that can be transformed into valuable business insights through advanced analytical
processing. Drawing on the official statistics of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period
2020–2025, the study demonstrates the rapid expansion of the data-generation base. Specifically, the number
of remote banking service users increased from 43.6 million in January 2024 to 82.9 million in January 2026,
while the number of transactions processed through the Instant Payments System grew from 5.4 million in 2020
to 61.3 million in 2025. The study proposes a measurable indicator of a bank’s Big Data intensity, calculated
as the ratio of information technology expenditure to total operating expenses, and examines its relationship
with profitability and asset quality using a fixed-effects panel data model based on six leading commercial
banks over the period 2018–2024. The estimated effect is positive; however, it has not yet reached statistical
significance, which is consistent with the technology-return J-curve described in the classical literature and the
relatively short observation period. Based on these findings, the article develops practical recommendations for
improving credit-scoring models by incorporating payment discipline and digital activity indicators, as well as for
enhancing real-time fraud monitoring.