ATMs in Georgia: Fees, Locations, and Best Banks for Tourists

You land in Tbilisi, tap your card for a coffee, and everything feels easy. Then you reach the marshrutka station and the driver only wants lari in notes. Now you need an ATM, and you do not know which one is cheapest or whether your card will work. This guide covers the machines, the fees, and the habits that keep your money safe in Georgia in 2026.

The Three Banks Worth Using: TBC, Bank of Georgia, Liberty

The Georgian lari (GEL) has been the national currency since 1995. Three banks run the ATM networks most tourists will use. The fee figures below are 2026 estimates, so treat them as a guide. The ATM screen shows the real fee before you confirm.

TBC Bank (tbcbank.ge)

TBC has an extensive network, and its machines are easy to spot by their blue branding. For foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, expect a fee of about 3.5 GEL to 5 GEL per transaction, or 2.5% to 3.5% of the amount, whichever is higher, with a minimum of 5 GEL. Daily limits are usually around 1,500 GEL to 2,500 GEL, depending on the ATM and your home bank. TBC accepts Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and increasingly American Express.

Bank of Georgia (bankofgeorgia.ge)

Bank of Georgia (BoG) is also very extensive, with orange branding. Its foreign-card fees are expected to match TBC: about 3.5 GEL to 5 GEL per transaction, or 2.5% to 3.5% of the amount, whichever is higher, with a 5 GEL minimum. Limits are similar at 1,500 GEL to 2,500 GEL. It accepts Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and American Express.

Liberty Bank (libertybank.ge)

Liberty’s green-branded ATMs are widespread and often turn up in smaller towns and post offices. Its fees are expected to be slightly lower, around 3 GEL to 4.5 GEL per transaction, or 2% to 3%, whichever is higher, with a minimum of 4 GEL. Limits are usually 1,000 GEL to 2,000 GEL. It primarily accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro. Liberty has historically been a little cheaper, but that gap may be narrowing in 2026.

Where to Find ATMs, and Where You Will Not

ATMs are easy to find in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, and Gori. Look in bank branches, shopping malls, supermarkets, airports, and train stations, including Tbilisi Central Station for Georgian Railway (Sakartvelos Rkinigza). Most machines work 24/7.

To find the nearest machine, open the TBC Bank, Bank of Georgia, or Liberty Bank mobile app. Each has an ATM locator. You can also use the bank websites listed above.

Outside the cities the map thins out. In mountain villages and small rural towns, you may find no machine at all, or one that is out of cash. Fill your wallet in a larger town before you head into the hills.

What an ATM Withdrawal Really Costs in 2026

The Georgian bank’s fee is only part of the cost. Your home bank may add its own foreign transaction fee or ATM fee. Check your card terms before you travel.

Using the TBC and Bank of Georgia structure above (2.5% to 3.5%, minimum 5 GEL), here is what different withdrawals cost. These are illustrative figures worked out from the percentage range.

• Budget traveller (a small top-up of 100 GEL): 2.5% to 3.5% is only 2.5 to 3.5 GEL, so the 5 GEL minimum applies. That is a lot for a small amount.
• Mid-range traveller (200 GEL): 2.5% to 3.5% is about 5 to 7 GEL.
• Comfortable traveller (500 GEL): 2.5% to 3.5% is about 12.5 to 17.5 GEL. At 1,000 GEL, the fee is about 25 to 35 GEL.

The takeaway is simple. Tiny withdrawals are wasteful because of the minimum fee. Large ones cost more in absolute terms because of the percentage. Withdraw what you need for several days, and use cards for everything else in the cities.

Step-by-Step: Using a Georgian ATM

1. Insert your card into the slot.
2. Select your language. English is usually available.
3. Enter your 4-digit PIN carefully.
4. Choose “Withdrawal” or “Cash Withdrawal.”
5. Select the account type. Choose “Credit Card,” “Current Account,” or “Savings Account.” For most foreign debit cards, “Current Account” is correct.
6. Enter the amount in GEL. Most machines offer preset amounts or a custom option.
7. Confirm the fee. The ATM usually shows the local bank’s fee. Accept it only if you are happy with the cost.
8. Take your cash.
9. Take your card. Do not walk away without it.
10. Keep the receipt for your records.

Staying Safe at the Machine

• Stay aware of who is around you.
• Cover the keypad with your hand when you type your PIN.
• Skip any ATM that looks tampered with or suspicious.
• Prefer machines inside bank branches or in well-lit, busy places.
• Tell your home bank your travel dates before you leave, so your card is not blocked for unusual activity.

Cards, Tap-to-Pay, and Where Cash Still Wins

Contactless payments have grown fast since 2024. In cities, you can tap Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro at restaurants and cafés, supermarkets and convenience stores, retail shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, and on public transport. That includes the Tbilisi Metro, buses, and cable cars.

Apple Pay and Google Pay work almost everywhere that accepts contactless cards, using either Georgian bank cards or supported foreign cards. That makes it easy to leave your wallet in your bag.

Cash still wins in a few places:

• Small independent shops, especially in rural areas
• Local markets and bazaars selling fresh produce
• Many marshrutka (minibus) services, which are mostly cash only
• Some smaller guesthouses and family-run stays
• Taxis, where some accept cards but cash is often preferred or required

Exchange Offices as a Backup to ATMs

If you carry US dollars or euros, exchange offices (გაცვლა, gatsvla) are everywhere in Georgian cities and tourist areas. They usually give better rates than airports or hotels. Look in central areas, near markets, and on main streets.

• Rates: They are shown on a board outside. Compare a few offices, especially for larger sums.
• Commission: Most advertise “0% commission,” meaning the displayed rate is final. Confirm this before you hand over money.
• Bill condition: Bring clean, crisp, undamaged USD or EUR notes. Torn, heavily creased, or marked bills may be refused or exchanged at a lower rate.
• Denominations: A mix is useful, though not required.
• Amounts: Exchange only what you need for a few days. You avoid carrying too much cash and may get better rates later.
• ID: Some offices ask for a passport or photo ID for larger transactions. Smaller amounts are not always checked.

Tipping in Cash

Tipping is customary in Georgia, and tips are usually given in cash. This is another reason to keep small notes.

• Restaurants: Around 10% is normal. Many bills already include a service charge of 10% to 18%. Look for “მომსახურების საკომისიო” (momskhurebis sakomissio) or “service charge.” If it is there, extra tipping is optional but welcome for great service. If not, leave 10%.
• Cafés and bars: Round up or leave a few GEL.
• Taxis: Tipping is not mandatory, but rounding up is polite. For an 8.5 GEL fare, pay 9 or 10 GEL.
• Private guides: 20–50 GEL per person per day, depending on tour length and quality.
• Hotel staff: 2–5 GEL for porters or housekeepers.

What Has Changed Since 2024

• Digital payments are near-universal in cities. Contactless and mobile wallets were already strong in 2024. By 2026, almost every urban business takes them.
• ATM fees have crept up. Foreign-card fees have risen slightly, typically by 0.5 GEL to 1 GEL per transaction or a small percentage, reflecting inflation and higher operating costs.
• Old card types are fading. No major payment method has been dropped, but swipe-only cards without chips have naturally disappeared as merchants upgraded their terminals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Relying only on cards. Marshrutkas, markets, and rural shops often need cash. Always carry at least 50–100 GEL.
• Withdrawing tiny amounts. A 100 GEL withdrawal still triggers the 5 GEL minimum at TBC and Bank of Georgia.
• Forgetting your home bank’s fees. They come on top of the Georgian bank’s charge.
• Not telling your bank you are travelling. This can lead to a blocked card at exactly the wrong moment.
• Packing only one card. Bring a primary debit card, a backup credit card, and some USD or EUR for exchange.
• Using damaged foreign notes. Torn or marked bills may be refused or exchanged at a worse rate.
• Waiting until the mountains. Withdraw in a city first. Rural machines are rare and may be empty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bank ATM is best for tourists in Georgia?

TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia have the widest networks and accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and American Express. Liberty Bank is also widespread, especially in smaller towns, and its fees are expected to be slightly lower. Use whichever is nearest, and check the fee on screen before you confirm.

How much does it cost to withdraw cash with a foreign card in Georgia?

Expect roughly 3.5 to 5 GEL per transaction, or 2.5% to 3.5% of the amount if that is higher, with a 5 GEL minimum at TBC and Bank of Georgia. Liberty is around 3 to 4.5 GEL, or 2% to 3%, with a 4 GEL minimum. Your home bank may add its own fee.

Do I need cash in Georgia in 2026?

Yes. Cards work in most city restaurants, shops, and the metro, but marshrutkas, markets, rural shops, and some guesthouses prefer cash. Carry at least 50–100 GEL. A marshrutka from Tbilisi to Borjomi costs around 15–20 GEL and usually needs cash.

Is it better to use an ATM or an exchange office?

ATMs are convenient and save you from carrying foreign cash, but they charge fees. Exchange offices often beat airport and hotel rates, and many advertise 0% commission. If you bring USD or EUR, make sure the bills are clean and undamaged. Compare rates and confirm there is no commission first.

Do I need to tell my bank before using my card in Georgia?

Yes, it is wise. Tell your home bank your travel dates and destinations so unusual activity does not trigger a block. Also ask about foreign transaction and ATM fees, since these come on top of the Georgian bank’s charge. Carry a backup card as well.

📷 Featured image by Ilona Bellotto on Unsplash.