Bank of Georgia Group's main subsidiaries provide banking and financial services through leading, customer-centric, universal banks – Bank of Georgia in Georgia and Ameriabank in Armenia.[8] The group's subsidiaries also include investment bank Galt & Taggart, Belarusian bank Belarusky Narodny Bank and other small companies in banking, payment and non-banking sectors.[9]
Bank of Georgia Group is listed on the premium segment of the main market of the London Stock Exchange[10] and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.[11]
Bank of Georgia was first listed on the Georgian Stock Exchange in 2001. It merged with Tbiluniversalbank in 2004.[15]
Starting from 2004, Bank of Georgia completed a number of strategic acquisitions, introduced a series of packaged retail products and initiated major infrastructure upgrades.[16]
This is when the Bank launched its private banking, placed debut corporate bonds on the Georgian Stock Exchange.[17]
In 2007, Bank of Georgia listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange in the form of global depositary receipts, the first international IPO from Georgia.[18] The period following the listing was marked by the issuance of the first Eurobond, further acquisitions, and new international partnerships, including with American Express.[19]
In 2014, Bank of Georgia acquired Tao Private Bank, the 9th largest bank in Georgia at the time of acquisition.[22]
In 2018, the Bank of Georgia issued Eurobonds denominated in GEL 500 million. This was the first time a Georgian company placed international bonds in local currency.[23]
In 2017, the decision was made to demerge BGEO Group PLC into two separately listed and independently managed public companies – Bank of Georgia Group PLC, the Banking Business, and Georgia Capital PLC, the Investment Business. The Demerger was completed on 29 May 2018.[24]
In 2018, Georgia Capital issued Eurobonds which were listed and traded on the Irish Stock Exchange.[25]
In 2020, the European Investment Bank signed a €50 million loan deal with the Bank of Georgia for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps. The Bank of Georgia typically lends the funds to local businesses, such as the Swiss Agricultural School Caucasus.[26][27]
In February 2024, the Bank of Georgia announced the proposed acquisition of 100% of a leading bank in Armenia, Ameriabank, for approximately $303.6 million.[28]
Products and operations
Former building of the Bank of Georgia on Freedom Square, Tbilisi
Bank of Georgia has one of the largest distribution networks in Georgia, comprising 211 branches, 989 ATMs, 3,134 self-service terminals and a call center.[29]
Bank of Georgia business consists of three key business segments: Retail Banking (RB) operations in Georgia, comprising subsegments that serve mass retail (Mass Retail), and mass affluent and high-net-worth clients (Premium Banking); SME Banking (SME) operations in Georgia, serving small and medium-sized businesses; and Corporate Banking (CB) operations in Georgia, serving corporate and institutional customers.[30]
Bank of Georgia has firmly established itself as one of the key players in the domestic banking sector, accounting for around 40% of total banking sector assets in Georgia.[31][32]
Retail banking
Retail Banking (RB) is divided into two sub-segments that serve mass retail (Mass Retail), and mass affluent and high-net-worth clients (Premium Banking). The Retail Banking products include consumer loans, mortgage loans, overdrafts, credit cards and other credit facilities, funds transfers and settlement services, and handling of customers’ deposits.[33]
Small and medium-sized enterprises
SME Banking serves small and medium-sized businesses providing financial and value-added services including business loans, payments processing, and financial advisory.[34] The Bank was awarded Best SME Banking in Central and Eastern Europe by Global Finance in 2022.[35]
Corporate Banking
Bank of Georgia’s Corporate Banking segment serves large businesses in Georgia. It mainly provides loans and other credit facilities, funds transfers and settlement services, trade finance services, documentary operations support and handles saving and term deposits for corporate and institutional customers.[36]
In the field of education, Bank of Georgia sponsors students through various scholarship programs, including international ones such as the Fulbright Graduate Student Programme, the Chevening Scholarship Programme and Miami ad School of Europe scholarship program.[37]
^IN THE MATTER OF BGEO GROUP PLC
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006 (THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES COMPANIES COURT (CHD) 2018-05-18), Text.
