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Are old US dollar bills accepted in Georgia?

Banks, exchange offices and which bills to bring.

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Short answer

Old US dollars remain legal tender, so banks in Georgia usually accept them, but exchange offices may refuse them or offer a worse rate. Problems arise most often with old-design bills issued before 1996 and with worn, torn or written-on notes. To avoid losing out, bring new-design dollars in good condition.

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Why

  1. Banks may accept old bills with a fee or send them for checking.
  2. Withdrawing lari from ATMs is easy if your card works in Georgia.
  3. Euros are exchanged as easily as dollars in Georgia.

Details

Check your bills before travelling: no writing, stamps or tears. If an exchange office refuses, try a bank branch.

Tip

Before travelling, swap old or worn bills at your own bank so you don't lose out on the rate in Georgia.

What may differ

Banks and exchange offices treat old bills differently, and airport exchanges are usually stricter.

Common misconception

Old-style dollars aren't accepted in Georgia at all.

What actually happens

Banks usually accept old dollars, sometimes for a fee; it's exchange offices that may refuse or cut the rate.

People also ask

  • Are old dollars accepted in Georgia?

Sources

Information checked on October 4, 2026.

Which currency to bring to Georgia

  • What banks are there in Georgia, and which should a foreigner choose?

    Georgia's largest banks are TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia, with the most branches and ATMs, good English-language apps and often Russian-speaking support.

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  • Who is pictured on Georgian lari banknotes?

    Lari banknotes feature notable Georgians: scholar Ivane Javakhishvili on 5 lari, poet Akaki Tsereteli on 10, writer Ilia Chavchavadze on 20, Queen Tamar on 50, poet Shota Rustaveli on 100 and Kakutsa Cholokashvili, a hero of the 1920s independence struggle, on 200.

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  • How can a Russian citizen open a bank card in Georgia?

    A Russian citizen can open an account and card at a Georgian bank, but only in person at a branch: you need your international passport, a Georgian phone number and a questionnaire on the account's purpose and your income sources.

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  • How can you send money from Georgia to Russia?

    Money usually goes from Georgia to Russia by bank transfer from a Georgian account to an account at a Russian bank that is not under sanctions, or through money transfer services.

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