Gifts for Otbasy Bank Executives: Former Employee Alleges Illegal Cash Collections

Former Otbasy Bank employee Maksim Ileshev claims he was fired after reporting corruption. He says refusing to take part in the scheme meant risking dismissal, Orda.kz reports.

Ileshev worked as a manager in one of the bank’s branches and was dismissed in November 2023. Soon after, he filed a lawsuit against the bank — but lost, despite presenting evidence.

He recorded a video statement describing alleged cash collections. For example, for deputy chair of the board Nurlan Akshanov’s birthday, one department alone was reportedly told to gather 239,000 tenge — about 6,000 tenge from each specialist and 15,000 from each manager.

I asked for a personal meeting with Ibragimova (head of Otbasy Bank). I was refused. So I contacted the Presidential Administration, after which the bank began returning the money from December 7 to 23 — covering three years at once. This was forced, not voluntary. On May 24, 2024, at a meeting in the Ministry of Economy, deputy chair Savchenko, who oversees security, confirmed that gifts had been given to Akshanov,
 Ileshev said.

Ileshev also cited former deputy director of the bank’s Almaty branch, Lyazzat Nurkhanova, who testified in court that such schemes existed not only in one branch but nationwide.

Collections overseen by Akshanov went toward gifts for management, corporate parties, motivational meetings, sports events, team-building, New Year, March 8, National Currency Day — all under the pretense of being voluntary. If you refused, you were marked and became a top candidate for dismissal, downsizing, or pressure. Nurkhanova, like me, faced pressure to resign by mutual agreement, but refused,
Ileshev claimed.

He said the anti-corruption law in this case “does not work,” and courts rule in favor of top managers.

Who is Nurlan Akshanov?

Akshanov, 48, is from Pavlodar Region. He previously worked at Halyk Bank, Kazkommertsbank, and ATF Bank. From 2011 to 2016, he held senior positions at the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund. He has served as deputy chair of Otbasy Bank since 2018.

Orda.kz has reached out to Otbasy Bank’s press service but had not received a response at the time of publication.

Original Author: Ayanrafi Narikbayeva