Bank of Georgia and TBC are the two main expat-friendly banks
Trust L4Updated May 7, 2026
Tbilisi
Banking, transfer, and payment setup basics for newcomers.
Most newcomers expect cash to dominate, but Tbilisi is rapidly going cash-less-major supermarkets (Carrefour, Goodwill), restaurants, petrol stations and malls all accept cards, and QR-code payments via TBCPay or BOGPay are common. Open a local account with Bank of Georgia or TBC on Rustaveli Avenue (you only need your passport) to get a free Visa debit card and the option of both GEL and USD accounts; TBC's mobile app is especially user-friendly. ATMs from TBC and BOG line every main street, but foreign cards incur a 2-3GEL fee per withdrawal, so relying on free foreign-card ATMs can bite you unexpectedly. For the best exchange rates, use licensed sarafi kiosks on Rustaveli near Freedom Square or inside Galleria Mall-no commission and honest weighing. When you need to move money abroad, link your TBC/BOG account to Wise; transfers arrive the same day domestically and in 1-3business days via SWIFT internationally. **Next step:** Walk to the Bank of Georgia (Rustaveli) or a TBC branch today, bring your passport, and start the account-opening process.
Ranked by contributor trust level and quality score.
Rustaveli · Experience date Feb 14, 2026
Opened Bank of Georgia account on Rustaveli with just my passport. USD and GEL accounts, free Visa debit card. TBC is also good and has a better mobile app. Both have English-speaking staff at main branches.
Saburtalo · Experience date Jan 2, 2026
Georgia has exceptionally low taxes for small businesses. Small Business Status (Małe Business): if your annual turnover is under 500,000 GEL (~$185,000): you can register as a 'small entrepreneur' and pay a flat 1% tax on turnover. No VAT for small businesses under 100,000 GEL/year. Individual Entrepreneur registration: can be done at the Revenue Service office with your passport in 30 minutes, costs 20 GEL. This is one of the most business-friendly tax regimes in the world — a major reason entrepreneurs and freelancers relocate to Tbilisi. Consult a local Georgian accountant for specifics.
Freedom Square · Experience date Apr 29, 2026
Georgia is one of the world's most crypto-friendly countries. No capital gains tax on cryptocurrency profits for individuals. TBC and BOG both accept crypto exchange platforms as legitimate businesses. Several Tbilisi-based crypto exchanges and OTC desks operate openly. Bitcoin ATMs: present in central Tbilisi (Fabrika, Rustaveli area). Converting crypto to GEL: peer-to-peer via Telegram groups (search 'P2P Georgia') or licensed exchanges. Georgia ranks highly in global crypto adoption indexes. For expats holding crypto assets: Georgia's legal clarity and low taxation make it an attractive base.
Rustaveli · Experience date Feb 24, 2026
Bank of Georgia (BOG) is TBC's main competitor — similar expat-friendliness. Open with passport only, same-day account. BOG app: English interface, very smooth UX, instant GEL transfers. BOG Mastercard is accepted slightly more widely than TBC Visa at some older merchants. BOG has more branches in outer districts (Gldani, Isani) — useful if not living centrally. Choosing between TBC and BOG: open both — it's free and takes one afternoon. Having both gives you redundancy, access to both ATM networks without fees, and flexibility for Georgian services that prefer one or the other.
Isani · Experience date Feb 1, 2026
Tbilisi is one of the most affordable cities for expats in Europe/Eurasia. Realistic monthly budget (2024): Rent (1-bedroom Vake): $500–700. Groceries: $150–200. Dining out (mix of restaurants and khinkali houses): $100–200. Transport (Bolt/metro): $30–60. Phone (prepaid): $5–10. Utilities: $30–60. Total: approximately $900–1,300/month for a comfortable urban life. For comparison: this is roughly half the cost of Lisbon or Berlin and a quarter of London. Remote workers earning European salaries live very well in Tbilisi.
Vake · Experience date Dec 30, 2025
Receiving international wire transfers (salary, client payments) to your Georgian bank account: use SWIFT. TBC Bank SWIFT code: TBCBGE22. BOG SWIFT code: BAGAGE22. Include your full IBAN and account name. Transfers from EU/UK via Wise: arrive in 1–3 business days. From US: 2–5 business days via Wise or bank SWIFT. Incoming transfer fees: TBC charges a small incoming SWIFT fee (approximately 0.1% of amount, minimum 5 GEL). Large transfers (over $10,000): your bank may ask for source of funds documentation — standard compliance, not a problem with legitimate income.
Saburtalo · Experience date Dec 16, 2025
Best currency exchange in Tbilisi: Licensed sarafi (exchange kiosks) on Rustaveli Avenue, near Freedom Square, and inside Galleria Mall — competitive rates, no commission, honest weighing. Compare rates at 2–3 kiosks before exchanging. The TBC and BOG app rates: usually slightly better than street kiosks for amounts under $1,000 — use the bank app when convenient. Worst rates: Tbilisi airport exchange desks (avoid for large amounts), hotel front desks. Practical tip: bring USD or EUR in cash from home — exchanging these in Tbilisi gets excellent rates. GBP also exchangeable at most kiosks.
Saburtalo · Experience date Apr 7, 2026
PayPal has limited functionality in Georgia. You can create a PayPal account linked to a Georgian bank card, but sending money from PayPal to a Georgian bank account is unreliable — subject to random holds and verification requests. Receiving international payments via PayPal: works but transfers to Georgian bank can take 3–7 days and may trigger compliance checks. Recommended alternative: Wise for receiving international payments — no holds, direct to TBC/BOG. Payoneer: also works well with Georgian banks. Most Tbilisi-based freelancers with international clients use Wise or Payoneer rather than PayPal.
Freedom Square · Experience date Apr 26, 2026
Georgian banks have excellent mobile payment systems. TBC Pay: QR code payment via TBC app, scan at checkout, instant deduction from GEL account. BOG Pay: similar. These are widely accepted at modern Tbilisi restaurants, supermarkets, cafés, and petrol stations. Apple Pay and Google Pay: work with TBC and BOG Georgian cards at NFC terminals. Most modern Tbilisi businesses (Carrefour, Fabrika cafés, chain restaurants) support contactless. Traditional tascas and markets: cash only. The combination of mobile pay + cash covers all payment situations in Tbilisi. TBC app is rated one of the best banking apps in the region — genuinely excellent UX.
Rustaveli · Experience date Nov 10, 2025
Georgian utility and service bills payable via: TBC or BOG banking app (most convenient — utilities section, enter meter number and pay), Carrefour payment terminals (at checkout area, handles utility payments), BOG or TBC ATMs (have a bill payment function), or post office. All major Tbilisi utilities (Telasi electricity, Tbilgazi gas, Tbilisi Water utility) are payable online through the banking apps. Most bills in Georgian — your landlord should show you the first time. Once set up in the banking app, payment takes 2 minutes monthly. Direct debit (auto-pay): available via TBC and BOG apps.