Banking and money

Banking, cards and money transfers

• The Georgian lari (GEL) is the only legal tender in Georgia.

  Source: Georgian National Tourism Administration.

• Non-residents can open a bank account at TBC Bank with a passport, but must visit a branch.

  We could not load the bank pages directly; this comes from TBC's expat page summary and guides.

  Bank of Georgia also opens accounts for non-residents. Expect questions about your source of funds and why you need the account.

  Sources: TBC Bank, Private Law wiki (updated 2026-10-20).

• Banks can refuse to open an account without giving a reason, and KYC checks have become stricter since 2023.

  Bring your passport, a Georgian phone number, and proof of income or source of funds such as a work contract. A rental contract can help.

  Sources: Gegidze, Legalese Georgia (updated 2026-07-11), PB Services Georgia.

• A personal account with clean documents is often opened the same or next business day; cards usually take 2 to 3 working days.

  Sources: Gegidze, PB Services Georgia.

• Few sources

  Opening an account remotely by power of attorney is possible at some banks but takes about 2 to 4 weeks and needs notarised, apostilled and translated documents.

  Gegidze says in-branch is preferred and remote opening is limited; Legalese says both TBC and Bank of Georgia allow it.

  Sources: Legalese Georgia (updated 2026-07-11), Gegidze.

• 10 GEL/month (TBC)TBC's card package for expats costs 10 GEL a month or 100 GEL a year; Bank of Georgia's SOLO non-resident packages cost 35, 55 or 80 GEL a month.

  Package prices change. Check at the branch.

  Source: Private Law wiki (updated 2026-10-20).

• Few sources

  Bank of Georgia reportedly charges about 150 GEL to review a non-resident application, with no refund if refused.

  Single third-party source; not confirmed by the bank.

  Source: PB Services Georgia.

• In March 2022, Bank of Georgia asked Russian citizens to sign a declaration condemning the war before opening an account.

  CHANGED 2022. We found no official 2026 policy text for specific nationalities. Banks apply extra checks to people from sanctioned or FATF high-risk countries.

  Reports also said TBC limited services for Russian non-residents. Since December 2022, Georgian banks warn all clients that accounts used to break Western sanctions will be blocked (Jamestown).

  Source: Odessa Journal (2022-03).

• 50,000 GELSince 1 April 2026, bank deposits are insured up to 50,000 GEL per person per bank.

  CHANGED 1 April 2026.

  The limit was 30,000 GEL before. Foreign currency deposits are covered but paid out in lari.

  Sources: Parliament of Georgia (2026), Terabank, Private Law wiki (updated 2026-10-20).

• You can receive money from abroad by SWIFT at TBC and Bank of Georgia; incoming fees apply, and regular freelance income may trigger compliance questions.

  Dollar payments pass through US correspondent banks, so part of the screening happens outside Georgia.

  Sources: Gegidze, Private Law wiki (updated 2026-10-20).

• Wise can send lari directly to Georgian bank accounts.

  It is not clear from Wise's page whether you can hold a GEL balance.

  Source: Wise.

• Revolut cards work in Georgia, but you cannot hold lari in the Revolut app.

  ATM fees are from user reports in 2024 and 2025 and may have changed.

  User reports say TBC ATMs charge about 5 GEL and Bank of Georgia ATMs about 3 GEL per foreign card withdrawal. Decline the ATM's own currency conversion.

  Source: Revolut.

• Own-bank ATM withdrawals in GEL are usually free; other banks' ATMs charge a fee.

  Source: Gegidze.

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