As Georgia’s beauty becomes less of a well-kept secret, expats are quickly catching on and choosing the Eurasian country as the place to start businesses, find work and raise their families. Having a bank account in Georgia could be useful for paying your bills, and to get paid if you’re working. But how easy is it to open one as a foreigner?
In this guide, we’ll run through everything you need to know on opening a bank account in Georgia. This includes whether you can do it online, the documents you’ll need and whether there are any fees involved.
But don’t forget that a bank account isn’t the only option available. You can use an alternative provider like Wise and open a Wise account online, and use it to send, spend and hold money in 50 currencies including GBP and GEL (Georgian Lari and receive in 10
There’s even a Wise debit card for spending in the local currency in 175 countries.
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Wise only charges low, transparent fees, and you’ll always get the mid-market exchange rate. This means it could work out cheaper than using a bank, as well as being more convenient.
But more on this later. For now, let’s focus on how to open a bank account in Georgia.
Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise for the most up to date pricing and fee information
What documents are needed to open a bank account in Georgia?
The documents required to open a Georgian bank account will vary, depending on the bank. But generally speaking, here’s what you’ll need to have ready¹:
- A valid passport (plus copies)
- Your completed application form
- A sample of your signature
- Proof of address - this doesn’t necessarily have to be an address in Georgia.
Foreigners may also be asked for other documents as part of the application process. For example, proof of income, a letter of recommendation from your previous bank or your employment contract.
Open a bank account online in Georgia
The process of opening a bank account in Georgia is pretty straightforward. You’ll simply need to visit a branch with your documents, fill out some forms and you should be all set.
But is it possible to open a bank account online, without visiting a branch? It depends on the bank, but many Georgian banks do now accept online applications. This includes Bank of Georgia and TBC Bank.
You’ll simply need to go to the bank’s website, choose an account, complete the online application form and follow the on-screen instructions.
Can I open an online account in Georgia from abroad?
While it’s possible to open a bank account online from inside Georgia, it can sometimes be tricky if you’re outside the country.
You can start by trying banks which offer online account opening services. But if you have no luck, there is another option. You can retain a local lawyer in Georgia and grant them power of attorney². This is a pretty common practice, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a firm willing to work with you to get your account open.
Make Wise your travel buddy. For example, you can open a Wise Multi-Currency account online while still in the UK, in just a few simple steps.
And you can start using your Wise account even before you land in Georgia. It’s really useful for covering those early moving costs, such as paying university tuition fees or the deposit on your rental accommodation.
This gives you a convenient, low cost way to manage your money between countries, especially if you have to wait to open a local bank account.
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And as soon as you touch down on Georgian soil, you can start spending in Georgian Lari (GEL) using your Wise multi-currency debit card.
Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity
Opening a bank account in Georgia
Before you start researching Georgian banks, it’s useful to know a little about the different account types available there.
Non-resident and resident accounts
Georgian banks don’t tend to have separate accounts for residents and non-residents. This is because there aren’t many restrictions on foreigners opening bank accounts in the country.
So, you should be able to choose from all the account types available to Georgian citizens, including:
- Current and savings accounts (known as deposit accounts)
- Multi-currency accounts
- Debit and credit cards.
However, you might find that unless you’re actually living in Georgia, you may only be able to access accounts with lower interest rates³.
Student
Some Georgian banks also offer specialist accounts and products for students and young people. For example, Bank of Georgia has a Student Card⁴ which comes with all kinds of perks, including discounts on travel and other special offers.
Savings
Savings accounts, also known as deposit accounts, are one of the most common account types in Georgia. There are lots of different kinds available, including on-demand (easy access), accumulative and term deposits. You’ll even find specialist deposit accounts for children.
If you’ll be staying in Georgia for a while, working and earning money, a savings account could be a handy thing to have.
Which Georgian bank is best for foreigners?
There are a multitude of banks to choose from in Georgia, many of which are local. That being said, it’s also possible to select a larger international institution for your personal banking.
To help you choose the right bank for you, let’s take a quick look at some of the country's biggest banks. This includes Bank of Georgia, TBC Bank, Liberty Bank and Basis Bank. And the good news for UK expats is that they all have versions of their websites in English.
Bank of Georgia
The Bank of Georgia is one of the biggest and most trusted banks in the country. It has nearly 200 branches across the country, and a network of over 900 ATMs⁵. It offers:
- A choice of deposit (savings) and current accounts, including the On-Call deposit account which requires no minimum initial deposit. For higher interest rates, there’s the Term deposit account which you can open with 500 GEL⁶.
- A selection of debit and credit cards, including a Mastercard Standard credit card for 10 GEL and Mastercard Gold card for 150 GEL⁷.
- Access to online and mobile banking.
TBC Bank
One of the largest banks in the country, TBC describes itself as a “technology-driven bank”. It has nearly 150 branches across Georgia, along with over 600 ATMs⁸.
TBC Bank offers:
- A range of savings and current accounts, including an easy access multi-currency account for everyday banking - with a monthly fee of just 0.90 GEL⁹.
- Deposit accounts of all kinds, including term deposits, goal-oriented savings accounts and dedicated children’s savings accounts.
- A choice of debit cards, including digital cards and dedicated cards for non-residents. It also offers a credit card, the Ertguli Card with annual fees starting from 5 GEL¹⁰.
- Access to online and mobile banking.
Liberty Bank
Liberty Bank is another of the most popular banks in Georgia, with its headquarters in Tbilisi. It has a large nationwide network of over 360 branches and 617 ATMs¹¹.
It offers:
- A range of current accounts, deposit accounts, loans and cards
- Tariff packages which come with a universal multi-currency account, card and other benefits, with monthly fees starting from 2 GEL¹².
- Credit cards with no service fees and a choice of repayment schemes¹³.
- Access to online and mobile banking.
BasisBank
One of the fastest-growing banks in Georgia, BasisBank offers a wide range of consumer, business and private banking services. It’s headquartered in Tbilisi and has nearly 40 branches nationwide¹⁴.
BasisBank offers the following products and services:
- A range of deposit accounts, including an interest-bearing Demand Deposit account which is free to open. However, you’ll need to keep a minimum balance of 100 GEL to earn the interest¹⁵.
- A choice of debit and credit cards, including the BasisBank Mego Card. This is a Visa Reward credit card with no service fee and a generous credit limit¹⁶.
- Access to online and mobile banking.
Banking in Georgia
The Georgian banking system is made up of local and international banks, most of which offer both online and mobile banking.
Opening times for physical branches can vary, but you can expect them to be open between around 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, opening times may be limited to just the morning¹⁷.
Like many traditional banks, transfer times can be a little slow with Georgian banks - especially if you’re sending money internationally. A faster alternative is to use an online solution such as Wise¹⁸.
With Wise, you can send money worldwide, in just a few clicks or taps. Wise charges low, transparent fees and you’ll always get a fair exchange rate, so it could even save you money compared to using a bank.
Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise for the most up to date pricing and fee information. The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circ*mstances and may not be available for all transactions
Banking fees in Georgia
Now, how much does it cost to bank in Georgia? There are a few key costs and figures you need to know about.
Some current account packages and higher interest rate deposit accounts come with a monthly account maintenance fee. This can vary, but you shouldn’t pay more than around 1-2 GEL a month.
You may be required to make or maintain a minimum deposit amount.
There may be additional fees for credit cards, account closure and for international transactions.
If you do want to send money internationally or spend abroad, Wise could be a cheaper alternative. For a one-time fee of just £7, you’ll get an international card for use in 175 countries including the UK and Georgia. You can also send money overseas at the mid-market exchange rate, with fees starting from just 0.41%.²¹
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You could even make your money go further by investing with Wise Assets (although remember that there’s always a risk with investing).
Sources used:
Sources last checked on date: 22-Feb-2023
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information. This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
