Personal banking in Georgia, set up remotely.

What you get#

A Georgian personal bank account in your name, opened remotely while you stay where you are. Multi-currency by default — GEL, EUR, USD held in the same account, often with GBP and other major currencies available. Standard Georgian retail banking comes with the account: online banking and mobile app in English, debit card with international acceptance, free SWIFT inbound transfers, attractive GEL deposit rates.

The structure has three other clean properties:

Attractive returns on GEL term deposits. The National Bank of Georgia's October 2026 rate comparison showed annual effective GEL term-deposit rates around 9% at major banks and above 10% at some smaller banks. USD and EUR deposits pay considerably less. We help you explore the banking options that suit you.

No minimum balance requirements at the major banks. Standard tiers (BOG MetroCard, TBC Status) carry no monthly maintenance fees and no minimum balance floor. Premium tiers exist for clients who want concierge support or higher-touch service.

Multi-currency operations are seamless. Convert between GEL, EUR, USD inside the account at competitive interbank rates. Receive foreign-currency wires in their native currency without forced conversion. Pay in any held currency where the merchant accepts it.

The combined effect: an account that functions like a Western European multi-currency private account but pays Georgian deposit rates and operates without the residency proof, salary statements, or in-person KYC the same banks would require from a foreigner walking in.

What we do#

We handle the full account opening end-to-end, remotely. You send us a passport scan plus the documentation the bank's compliance team will need. We draft your Power of Attorney and arrange its online notarisation together with your passport copy, the apostille and standard courier shipping of the originals to Georgia (a notary in your country can be arranged instead where needed). We pair you with the Georgian bank that fits your profile, prepare your application file, and coordinate onboarding through to active account.

Once your original documents are in Georgia, the bank step typically takes two to three days, subject to the bank's own review. Most of the overall time is the notarisation, apostille and courier leg in your country, which we plan with you up front. You don't come to Georgia. The PoA gives our team authority to open the account on your behalf and complete the in-person KYC steps that Georgian retail banking still requires.

We pair you with the right bank — most foreign clients land at Bank of Georgia or TBC Bank, the two retail banks that serve roughly 80% of foreign clients in Georgia. Which one fits depends on your profile, currency mix, and preferred service tier. We make the recommendation in the consultation; we don't have a tied bank or a referral arrangement.

What's included#

• Eligibility and bank-pairing consultation — we assess your profile and recommend Bank of Georgia or TBC Bank based on what fits, not on what pays us a kickback
• Power of Attorney drafting and notarisation coordination
• Document preparation for the bank's compliance file (passport, address proof, source-of-funds declaration as required)
• Coordination with the bank's onboarding team
• In-person account opening on your behalf via PoA
• Activation of online banking and mobile app
• Debit card issuance by the bank; collection in Georgia on your behalf where the bank allows it, with international delivery quoted by destination
• Briefing on operating the account: how transfers work, currency conversion, fees, deposit products

What you'll need to qualify#

Two things. We confirm both before recommending the structure.

Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity. Georgian banks require this for any new account opening. If your passport is closer to expiry, we recommend renewing first; otherwise the application can stall.

Clear source-of-funds story. Georgian banks operate under National Bank of Georgia AML/CFT supervision and ask source-of-funds questions for new foreign clients. Salary income, business income, savings, investment proceeds, inheritance — all are normal answers, all are documented in standard ways. We help you assemble the documentation in a form the bank's compliance team accepts cleanly.

We work through both in the consultation and confirm the application is solid before submission.

Going beyond the personal account#

Foreigners running an Individual Entrepreneur or LLC structure usually want both personal and business banking. The personal account handles your personal income and savings; the business account handles invoices, expenses, and tax obligations for the structure.

For IE clients: the IE income can flow into the personal account directly (legally permitted) for the simplest setup, or into a separate business account if you prefer the operational separation. We brief you on the trade-offs in the consultation.

For LLC clients: the LLC needs its own corporate account by Georgian banking convention. See Corporate Account for the corporate-side setup.

Most foreign clients we set up open both — personal first, then add corporate when the company structure is ready.

When personal account is the right fit#

Personal banking in Georgia fits readers who:

• Want a multi-currency account that pays Georgian deposit rates
• Need an account they can operate from anywhere via online banking
• Plan to spend time in Georgia (for residency, business, or lifestyle reasons) and want banking infrastructure already in place
• Want the foundation for adding business banking later under an IE or LLC structure

The remote-via-PoA opening is what makes this work for foreigners. Walking into a Georgian bank branch as a foreigner without Georgian residency, a Georgian phone number, or local references is operationally hard — many applications are declined or stall indefinitely. The PoA route plus a properly prepared file changes the conversation entirely.

If you only need business banking for a Georgian company, see Corporate Account — we can open that without opening personal first, though most foreign clients want both.

Why Happy Georgia#

Independent advisory. No tied bank, no referral fees, no kickback for steering you to one bank over another. We recommend Bank of Georgia or TBC Bank based on what fits your profile — currency mix, service tier preference, planned account activity.

Foreign clients only. Our entire practice is foreigners setting up in Georgia. Every engagement starts from your own situation: where you live and pay tax, who your clients are, and what you plan to do in Georgia.

Fixed pricing, no tourist tax. The same rate for foreign and Georgian clients. We quote in EUR, we honor the quote, no surprises later.

Frequently asked questions#

Can I really open a Georgian bank account without coming to Georgia?#

Yes. The Power of Attorney route lets our team open the account on your behalf and complete the in-person KYC. Once the account is active, you operate it from anywhere via online banking and mobile app. Most of our personal-banking clients never visit Georgia for the account; some visit later for residency or business reasons.

Which bank will I end up at?#

Most foreign clients land at Bank of Georgia or TBC Bank, the two banks that serve roughly 80% of foreign clients. The right pairing depends on your profile — currency mix, expected account activity, service tier preference, planned IE or LLC structure. We make the recommendation in the consultation based on what fits, not on what pays us a kickback (we have no referral arrangements with either bank).

How long does the setup take?#

The bank step typically takes two to three days once your original Power of Attorney and documents are in Georgia, subject to the bank's review; if the bank asks for additional information, that adds a round. Before that, the PoA is notarised and apostilled in your country and couriered to us, which depends on your country's notary and apostille office; an expedited courier option is available. We brief you on the timeline as part of your consultation so you can plan around it.

What documentation do I need?#

Passport (with at least 6 months validity remaining), proof of address in your country of residence (utility bill or bank statement under 3 months old), and source-of-funds documentation appropriate to your situation (salary slip, employment contract, business income statement, investment statement, etc.). We tell you exactly what the bank you're paired with will accept before you start collecting.

What about source-of-funds questions?#

Georgian banks ask source-of-funds questions for new foreign clients under National Bank of Georgia AML/CFT supervision. Salary, business income, savings accumulated over years, investment returns, inheritance — all are normal, all have standard documentation. We assemble the file with you so the answers are clear and the documentation is in the form the compliance team expects.

What deposit rates are actually available?#

GEL deposit rates can be attractive, particularly for fixed-term deposits; USD and EUR rates are much lower. Rates vary by bank, currency and term, so we review the available options with you before you make a decision.

Can I add my IE or LLC business banking later?#

Yes. The personal account is often the foundation for adding business banking when you're ready. For IE clients, the IE income can flow into the personal account directly or into a separate business account. For LLC clients, the LLC needs its own corporate account. We coordinate the addition when you're ready.

What about my home-country tax on Georgian deposits?#

The tax treatment of interest on a Georgian account depends on the applicable Georgian rules and on your own tax position, including in your country of residence. We go through the questions that apply to you in the consultation, so you open the account knowing what to expect.

Can the account be revoked or closed?#

Georgian banks can close accounts if compliance posture changes — substantial change in account activity that doesn't match the original profile, AML/CFT-related concerns, or change in the bank's risk appetite. We brief you on the operational discipline that keeps the account stable over time, including how to handle major activity changes (large incoming wires, new income sources) so they don't trigger compliance review.

Ready to set up?#

We assess your situation in a free consultation, recommend the bank that fits your profile, prepare your file, and quote a fixed price. If something else fits better — corporate banking only, brokerage account only, a different jurisdiction's banking entirely — we tell you.