American Express cards accepted through TBC in Georgia

American Express card payments are now accepted through TBC channels in Georgia, extending acceptance at merchant locations and online.

The agreement allows TBC to process American Express card transactions across its acquiring network, widening access for cardholders in the country's physical and digital retail markets.

TBC is one of Georgia's leading financial institutions and part of TBC Bank Group, which is listed in London. The group says it serves 7.2 million monthly digitally active customers in Georgia and Uzbekistan.

For merchants, the move means businesses using TBC's channels can now accept payments from local and international American Express cardholders. This broadens payment options for consumers and gives retailers access to a larger pool of potential customers, including visitors to Georgia.

Wider acceptance

The deal is part of American Express's broader effort to increase the number of places where its cards can be used outside the United States. Its cards are accepted at more than 190 million merchant locations worldwide, including about 80 million locations in China and Brazil through digital wallets and payment intermediaries.

American Express said the number of merchant locations accepting its cards outside the US has more than doubled over the past four years. It added that the global total grew by about 20 million this year.

Georgia's payments market has developed rapidly in recent years as banks and merchants have expanded digital services and online commerce. In that context, broader card acceptance can be significant for retailers seeking to serve both domestic consumers and international travellers.

TBC has built its business around digital financial services across retail, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and corporate and investment banking. Its nationwide presence gives the American Express network access to a broad merchant base in a market at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus.

Merchant focus

The companies presented the agreement as a way to expand merchant access and payment choice. TBC said it supports its efforts to offer businesses and consumers payment methods that are easy to use across channels.

"We are pleased to partner with American Express to expand American Express Card acceptance in Georgia. This collaboration reflects our commitment to offering merchants a simple, convenient and secure payment experience, and giving customers greater payment choice. The partnership opens new opportunities for merchants to serve a wider range of customers, including international visitors, while also supporting the development of the payments ecosystem in Georgia," said Sandro Rtveladze, Retail Business Director, TBC Georgia.

American Express said the partnership fits its global network strategy of increasing acceptance so card members can use their cards more widely across markets.

"Our goal is to expand the number of places where our Card Members around the world can use their American Express Cards. Our collaboration with TBC aims to further grow American Express Card acceptance in Georgia and marks another important step in providing our Card Members with more payment choice and creating new opportunities for merchants across the country," said Sonia Dewan, Vice President and General Manager, Global Network Services EMEA, American Express.

TBC Bank Group was founded in Georgia in 1992 and later expanded into Uzbekistan, where it operates a digital financial business. The group is included in the FTSE 250 Index, reflecting its scale among London-listed companies.

American Express, founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, manages a global card network and merchant relationships across consumer, small business and corporate segments. In Georgia, the latest agreement adds another route for card acceptance as banks compete to deepen digital payments across the economy.