The FINANCIAL -- Consumer, mortgage and business loans were the most demanded type of products among loans offered by Georgian banks in 2009.

The FINANCIAL -- Bank of Georgia will start issuing the American Express Card and the American Express Gold Card in Georgia. The Cards will provide innovative and unique benefits, which are designed to meet the needs of consumers both in Georgia and when traveling around the world, and will be available exclusively through Bank of Georgia 's local network.

The FINANCIAL -- Bank of Georgia  on November 9 announced that it will start issuing the American Express Card and the American Express Gold Card in Georgia.

The FINANCIAL -- Bank of Georgia has reduced interest rates on mortgage, customer and auto loans. Interest rates on hypotec credits will be 14.5%. Customer loans has shortened to 20%, as for auto loans it will be offered in 16%. Previously, during global recession interest rates for mortgage loans was 18%, customer loans – 36% and auto loans – 17%. 

The FINANCIAL -- The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) decreased by 53.0 million GEL (1.0 percent) compared to September 1, 2009 and amounted to 5.2 billion GEL by October 1, 2009.

The FINANCIAL -- As of October 1, 2009, the banking sector in Georgia is represented by 19 commercial banks, including 13 foreign-controlled banks and 2 branches of non-resident banks.

The FINANCIAL -- Total volume of deposits in the country’s banking sector (including term deposits and current accounts of non-financial and households sectors, including payable interest) exceeded 3.0 billion GEL by October 1, 2009, which is 4.1 percent more than the comparable figure for September 1, 2009.

The FINANCIAL -- Georgian financial services providers TBC Bank and BTA Bank have signed agreements with Swedish supplier of smartcard-based authentication products Todos.