# Commercial bank licence (Georgia)

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/georgia/

The Commercial bank licence is issued by National Bank of Georgia (NBG) under Organic Law of Georgia on the National Bank of Georgia. The official register lists 17 current holders. The legal decision period is The National Bank must decide within 6 months of confirming receipt of a complete written application, and the total decision period (including any extension) must not exceed 12 months. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.

## At a glance

| Official name | Commercial bank licence [1] |
| --- | --- |
| Issued by | [National Bank of Georgia](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/nbg-georgia/) |
| Jurisdiction | [Georgia](https://protegra.io/licensing/jurisdictions/georgia/) |
| Licence family | [Bank / credit institution](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/) |
| Legal basis | Organic Law of Georgia on the National Bank of Georgia [2]; Law of Georgia on Commercial Bank Activities [3] |
| Passporting | Domestic only |
| Statutory decision time | The National Bank must decide within 6 months of confirming receipt of a complete written application, and the total decision period (including any extension) must not exceed 12 months [3] |
| Public register | [official register](https://nbg.gov.ge/en/licensed-commercial-banks) [4] |
| Current holders | 17 [4] |

## What it lets you do

- [Taking deposits from the public](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/deposit-taking/)
- [Lending](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/credit-granting/)
- [Execution of payment transactions](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/payment-execution/)

- **Taking deposits from the public.** Accepting deposits or other repayable funds from the public, the activity reserved to credit institutions.
- **Lending.** Granting loans, including consumer credit, mortgage credit, factoring and financing of commercial transactions.
- **Execution of payment transactions.** Executing direct debits, card payments and credit transfers, including standing orders, from a payment account.

## Where it is valid

_Valid in Georgia._

## How long it takes

Statutory: The National Bank must decide within 6 months of confirming receipt of a complete written application, and the total decision period (including any extension) must not exceed 12 months [3]. Observed: not published. The statutory clock usually starts only when the regulator treats the application as complete, and pauses while it waits for answers to its questions.

## Buying a company that already holds it

**Prior notification with an objection period.** For commercial banks, acquiring or crossing 10%, 20%, 30% or 50% of capital or voting shares, or otherwise gaining significant influence, requires notifying the National Bank; anyone holding more than 10% is a significant shareholder subject to the NBG's fit-and-proper assessment (Law on Commercial Bank Activities, Art. 81 and Art. 1(z5)). For payment service providers, changes of significant shareholders and beneficial owners must be notified to the NBG under its PSP registration order (Order No. 77/04 of 1 May 2023). [3]

## Sources

1. [nbg.gov.ge: licensing requirements](https://nbg.gov.ge/en/page/licensing-requirements): retrieved 2026-09-24
2. [matsne.gov.ge: 101044](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/101044): retrieved 2026-09-24
3. [matsne.gov.ge: 32962](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/32962): retrieved 2026-09-24
4. [nbg.gov.ge: licensed commercial banks](https://nbg.gov.ge/en/licensed-commercial-banks): retrieved 2026-09-24

Last verified 2026-09-24 · Author: Danil Marmysh · Reviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova · © Protegra. Data: CC BY 4.0, cite "Protegra Licensing Atlas". Not legal advice.