TBC Bank has told customers that card service terms will change from 20 July, including new charges on foreign-currency cash and stricter rules for some international transfers at branches.
The lender, one of Georgia's largest retail banks, said the updates apply to standard card products. Officials have not framed the move as a general fee increase across all accounts, but rather as adjustments to specific foreign-exchange services.
ATM withdrawals in foreign currency
From the effective date, customers who withdraw foreign currency from TBC ATMs will pay a commission of 0.6% of the amount taken out.
The charge applies to cash dispensed in currencies other than the Georgian lari. Many expats and visitors use dollar or euro withdrawals when travelling or sending money home, so the fee is likely to affect households that keep savings or income in foreign denominations.
TBC has not published a full list of which ATM currencies are covered in its initial notice. Customers are advised to check the bank's tariff schedule or mobile app before the July deadline.
Branch transfers and who is exempt
At bank branches, customers will be able to carry out only guaranteed international transfers, according to the announcement. The minimum commission on those transactions is 0.4% of the transfer value, with a floor of $35.
Guaranteed transfer products typically promise that funds reach the beneficiary within a set timeframe or that the sending bank covers certain routing risks. TBC has not detailed which legacy branch services might be withdrawn or redirected to other channels.
The changes do not apply to holders of school cards, business cards or users of TBC Concept, the bank's premium retail package. Those segments will keep existing terms unless separately notified.
What customers should check
Residents and expats who rely on TBC for dollar or euro cash should compare the new 0.6% ATM charge with alternatives such as lari withdrawals, other banks' tariffs or card payments where merchants accept foreign cards.
Anyone planning large outbound transfers through a branch should confirm whether their transaction qualifies as guaranteed and how the $35 minimum commission affects smaller payments. Business and school account holders should verify that their product type is correctly classified before 20 July.
TBC's notice is part of a wider pattern among Georgian banks of revising foreign-exchange and transfer pricing as operating costs and compliance requirements shift. Further updates may follow once the new schedule is live.
