I used my US card in Georgia & the ATM just asked me Accept or Decline Conversion - I feel like I should choose Accept coz it seems more appealing but it had these super confusing numbers on the screen saying 8% markup so not sure. What should I do?
At the TBC ATM near Freedom Square, I nearly pressed Accept because the USD option looked reassuring. My hostel roommate said “Don’t - they charge extra.” I tested it: withdrew 500 GEL twice, once Accept, once Decline. Sure enough, Decline was about $11 cheaper on my Capital One 360 account. Since then, I never press Accept anywhere in Georgia.
This is a classic DCC scam. You’ll see it across Georgia at Liberty, TBC, and ProCredit machines. It’s basically asking, “Do you want us to rip you off now or later?” Always select Decline/Local Currency. Even if your US bank has a foreign fee, it’s still cheaper than the ATM’s 8% markup. Hostels in Tblisi (like Fabrika) even have posters warning travelers about this.
I hit Accept once at a Liberty Bank ATM in Batumi thinking it’d be simpler. Huge regret. For 1000 GEL I ended up paying $34 more than if I’d declined. Next time at a Bank of Georgia ATM in Kutaisi, I chose Decline and checked my Wells Fargo statement later - the difference was night and day. Trust the card network, not the ATM.
I used my US card at a TBC Bank ATM on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. It offered to convert straight to USD at some “guaranteed rate” but with an 8% markup. Decline every time. Take the cash in lari (GEL). Visa/Mastercard conversion is almost always better than what the ATM shows. My Chase Sapphire handled GEL → USD smoothly with no weird fees.
TBC Bank in Georgia charges 5 GEL and only offers fixed withdrawal amounts - not ideal if you need a custom amount.