Alexey Faleev, a man who knows more about money than many bankers, visited the Akchabar office. In the past, he worked at the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan, overseeing the issuance of banknotes and coins. Today, he is the sole representative of the country's largest board game franchise, Hobby Games, and a master of the Strategy of Life game. Why did he swap the strict financial sector for the world of board games, how can old banknotes be exchanged for new ones, and what security features do we see on Kyrgyz soms every day but fail to notice - find out in our interview.

From mine surveyor to national bank specialist

The path to a career at the National Bank didn’t begin with finance but with physics and mining. After graduating from the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University and working as a mine surveyor at Kumtor, the protagonist of our story faced an unexpected shift. In 2000, despite his original professional background, he started working at the National Bank. The expert department needed specialists with a technical education, opening up new horizons for him.

"My first diploma was with honors — a mining engineer-physicist. I received my second diploma later, specializing in law with a focus on forensics. My thesis was dedicated to investigating cases of counterfeiting, banknote and securities forgery, as well as a comparative analysis of the security features of banknotes of the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic," — says Alexey Faleev.

Starting as a lead expert, he focused on analyzing worn-out banknotes and addressing issues related to their disposal. His career at the National Bank then reached a new level — he became the chief expert responsible for issuing new banknotes. His work involved establishing contracts with international companies specializing in currency printing, as well as developing and implementing new security features for banknotes.

What to do if you tear a 5,000-som banknote?

Alexey Faleev explained how the bank handles worn and damaged banknotes. He noted that even old bills that are no longer in circulation can still be exchanged for new ones. "The National Bank does not withdraw banknotes from circulation permanently — they can be accepted and exchanged for any denominations, including coins and new banknotes," — Faleev said.

According to him, the exchange procedure also applies to damaged banknotes, as long as they retain their security features that confirm their authenticity.

He also recalled an unusual case when he had to restore a bundle of damaged banknotes that had been buried and later discovered during the sale of a house.

"It took me a whole week to gather 40-50 thousand KGS by restoring them, and that's when I developed a dislike for puzzles," — he shared.

It's important to note that the National Bank accepts even heavily damaged banknotes.

"If a banknote is torn, you can bring it to the bank, collect the pieces on a white sheet of paper, submit an application, and the bank will replace it for the full amount," — he explained.

From the National Bank to board games: how did that happen?

Alexey shared that at one point, the workload was so overwhelming that his personal life took a backseat. He admits that his schedule at the bank was so packed that he lacked time for family and hobbies.

"I actually had no time for my family. One day, my son told me, 'Dad, you were the worst dad in our kindergarten.' I asked him why, and he replied, 'Because you always brought me in first and picked me up last.' That was a real shock for me. I realized that I was spending too much time at work," — recalled Alexey Faleev.

Although he left the National Bank, Faleev didn’t immediately distance himself from the sphere. He continued to provide consultations, but having freed up more time for his family, he became passionate about a new endeavor that soon became his main passion and life's work.

Watch the full interview with Alexey Faleyev in our video: he will tell you how banknotes are created, what nuances are taken into account, how to choose the personality that appears on the banknote, and how board games help to spend time not only with fun but also with benefit.

Watch the full interview with Alexey Faleev in our video: he shares insights on how banknotes are created, what details are taken into account, how the individuals featured on them are chosen, and how board games can be both entertaining and beneficial.