On May 10, Kyrgyzstan celebrates Bank Worker Day (Kyrgyzstandin Bank Kyzmatkerinin Kunu), established by Decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic of April 14, 2003 № 209, taking into account the importance of the contribution of bank workers to the socio-economic development of the Republic.
This professional holiday was established due to the fact that on May 10, 1993, Kyrgyzstan introduced its own national currency, — Kyrgyz som.
The exchange of Russian rubles for catfish was carried out until May 14, 1993, and at 6 pm of this day the catfish became the only legal tender on the territory of the republic. The first banknotes in denominations of 1, 5 and 20 soms began to be gradually replaced in 1994 with banknotes of the second series of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 soms with improved security characteristics. As the national currency «grew», its design and protective properties improved.
In 1997, the first banknotes of the next, third series, with an increased level of protection, appeared, — 5 and 10 soms. In 1999, a 1 som banknote with improved characteristics and an individual watermark was produced.
The size of the banknote has also been changed. The continuation of the issue of banknotes of the third series was banknotes of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 soms, which have the most modern protective elements. It should be noted that the design of banknotes of the lowest denominations of 1, 10 and 50 tyyns (1 tyyn - 1/100 Kyrgyz som) still remains unchanged, exactly the same as back in 1993.
The 1.10 and 50 tiyyn banknotes feature a golden eagle in the sun on the front. On the reverse side there is a Kyrgyz ornament in the center of which the sun is depicted. The first banknotes, issued in 1993, differed from each other only in denomination and color. The images on them were identical. On the front side there was an image of the Manas monument. On the reverse kumbez of Manas — is a monumental structure from the 14th century.
Today, the Kyrgyz som is represented by four denominations of coins (1, 3, 5 and 10 soms) and eight denominations of IV series banknotes (introduced into circulation between 2009 and 2016): 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000. In addition to them, III series banknotes remain in circulation in small quantities.
In February 2017, the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic approved the symbol of catfish —, the underlined letter «c» of the Cyrillic alphabet.