Georgia modernises RTGS infrastructure, creating a clearer reference

Verified facts

• The National Bank of Georgia reported on 19 May 2026 that it had completed the RTGS and clearing-system upgrade and transitioned the infrastructure to ISO 20022. The announcement identifies a system change, not an individual participant’s onboarding, service availability or technical integration.
• NBG stated that eligible non-bank payment service providers may participate in the system upon meeting relevant requirements. Eligibility language does not establish that a particular applicant meets registration, technical, operational, capital, risk, compliance, connectivity, security or other requirements.
• The NBG payment-services framework separately identifies regulated categories, payment-service-user information and strong-customer-authentication requirements. Infrastructure modernisation does not displace the need to determine the correct regulated role, consumer, security, AML/CFT, data and contractual obligations for a product.
• World Bank material describes Georgia’s broader digital-inclusion and innovation efforts and notes remaining access and capability gaps. Independent context supports a targeted operating hypothesis but cannot validate a payment product, customer need, compliance outcome or investment case.
• BIS/IOSCO principles provide the international risk, access and operational-resilience frame for financial-market infrastructure. They are not an assessment of Georgia’s upgraded system and do not evidence compliance, participant onboarding, technical connection or commercial readiness for a named firm.