A SWIFT transfer to Georgia has been delayed or returned

The money has been debited from my account, but there’s been no response from the Georgian side. Either the payment has been returned — in which case the statement shows a lower amount than was sent — or… It’s an unpleasant situation, but not a hopeless one.

What is important to understand straight away: The fact that the funds have not been credited does not in itself mean that they have been lost. You should check the actual status of the transfer with the sending bank using the UETR. The funds being debited from your bank and credited to the recipient’s account in Georgia are two separate events, between which there may be a whole chain of banks.

The first thing you need to do is ask your bank for the payment identifier (UETR) and the current status of the transfer. At the same time, notify the recipient so that they can check their incoming transactions. If you have transferred money to purchase property in Georgia, also check the contractual payment deadline: a delay on the bank’s part does not, in itself, suspend the fulfilment of contractual obligations.

A SWIFT transfer to Georgia hasn’t gone through: what to do straight away

If the money has been debited but has not reached the recipient, you should first ask the sending bank for the UETR and the current status of the payment. Do not send the money again until you have established what happened to the original transfer.

The timeframe of 1–6 working days is a guide provided by Wise for certain SWIFT transfers, and is not a requirement set by the National Bank of Georgia. Individual payments may take longer to process.

How can I tell where the transfer has been held up?

There are several stages between the moment the bank debits the funds from your account and the moment they are credited to the recipient’s account in Georgia. First, the sending bank generates a payment order and sends it via the interbank network. The route taken by the transfer depends on the currency and the banks’ correspondent network. One or more banks may be involved in the transaction intermediary banks — intermediate participants in the chain. Each of them carries out its own processing, including verifying details and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Delays may occur at any point in this chain. The Georgian recipient bank is the last in the chain, and it too is entitled to carry out its own checks before crediting the funds to the account.

For the purposes of practical assessment, it is useful to identify five main scenarios; the formal statuses and their specific details depend on the individual bank and payment system:

waiting — the payment is being processed; the delay is within reasonable limits;
further check — the bank has requested documents or further details;
deviation — the payment was not accepted at some stage;
refund — the money is returned to the sender;
enrolment — The transfer has been successfully delivered to the recipient.

Confusing these statuses means taking the wrong action. For example, resending the full amount whilst the status is ‘processing’ is highly inadvisable.

It is also worth bearing in mind the impact of bank holidays, public holidays and time zone differences. If your transfer is sent on a Friday evening, the Georgian side may not be able to process it until the start of the working week.

There is no guaranteed standard delivery time for SWIFT transfers. The speed of the transaction depends on the route, the participating banks, the currency, the amount and whether any additional checks are required.

What to do in the first few days

Until the status of the payment is clear, the main thing is not to act haphazardly. There’s no need to ring several banks at once with the same question or, worse still, to send the money again. Sort out what has already been sent.

Practical Checklist No. 1: First Steps

1. Please check the details you have provided. IBAN, the recipient bank’s BIC/SWIFT code, the recipient’s name, the currency, the amount and the payment reference.
2. Please keep all documents relating to the dispatch. Proof of transfer, bank statement, screenshots of the transaction.
3. Ask your bank for your UETR and a payment confirmation. This is the main tool for tracing a transfer through the banking system.
4. Please check with the bank to find out the current status and the last known stage of processing. Please ask for information on which node the payment is located.
5. Please provide the recipient with all the details so that they can carry out the necessary checks on their end. Date, amount, currency, UETR. Please check the incoming transactions and unposted receipts.
6. If the status remains unclear after a reasonable period of time, ask the bank to launch a formal investigation. A payment investigation is a standard banking procedure, not an emergency measure.

It is usually easier to initiate an enquiry through the sending bank: it was this bank that sent the payment into the system and can liaise with correspondent banks. However, in some cases, the Georgian receiving bank may be able to track the incoming payment itself — please check with both parties.

Keep a record of all correspondence with banks. Make a note of the date of each enquiry, the names of the staff members involved or the enquiry reference numbers. If the matter drags on, these records will form the basis of a complaint.

What to do if the payment deadline for your property is approaching

Correspondence and bank confirmation do not in themselves mean that a monetary obligation has been fulfilled. The date of fulfilment and the consequences of any delay are determined by the contract and the applicable law.

Why is the bank holding up the money?

A delay does not in itself prove that funds have been lost. The reason for and status of a specific payment should be clarified with the bank. A transfer may be delayed due to incorrect details, additional bank checks or the nature of the payment route. Without details from the specific bank, it is not possible to rank the causes by frequency — every customer’s situation is different.

Incorrect IBAN or BIC — An error in a single character of the IBAN may result in the transfer being rejected, delayed or routed incorrectly. Even a minor discrepancy between the recipient’s name in the transaction and that held in the banking system may lead the bank to suspend processing pending clarification.

Verification of compliance with AML and KYC requirements. Banks apply AML/KYC procedures taking into account the risks, the nature of the transaction and the information available about the customer; requests for documentation may be made not only in the case of large transfers. A request for documentation does not in itself imply that the bank has identified a breach: it is part of standard regulatory procedures.

Features of the correspondent route. If your bank routes the payment via an intermediary bank in a third country, additional requirements or delays may arise at this stage, over which neither you nor the Georgian bank has any control.

Can a SWIFT transfer be blocked due to sanctions checks?

Yes. International banks check transfers to ensure they comply with applicable sanctions restrictions. Depending on the outcome and the requirements in force, the payment may be held for further verification, rejected or blocked.

Georgia has a regulatory framework in place for screening SWIFT messages, which provides for checks against applicable sanctions restrictions. Banks also take into account their own internal procedures and the requirements of the relevant jurisdictions.

If the bank has notified you that your account has been frozen due to sanctions:

• Please request any available information regarding the status of the transaction and the legal basis for the restriction.
• Please clarify which documents may be submitted for further verification.
• Do not attempt to circumvent the restriction by splitting the amount or using non-transparent intermediaries.
• Do not expect an automatic refund: the procedure for dealing with blocked funds differs from that for a standard payment refusal.
• If the amount involved is substantial or there is a risk of a breach of contract, please consult a solicitor specialising in banking and sanctions law.

A sanctions freeze does not automatically mean that the money will be confiscated, but neither does it guarantee that it will be returned in the normal way.

Important: No bank is obliged to publicly disclose the specific criteria used in its compliance checks. This means that it is not possible to guarantee that a payment up to a certain amount will go through without any issues. The likelihood of documents being requested depends on the customer’s profile, the source of the funds, the amount and purpose of the payment, the route taken, and the bank’s risk assessment.

Sometimes customers see splitting a transfer into several payments as a way of avoiding verification. You shouldn’t do that. Conversely, making several payments to the same recipient within a short period of time may attract the bank’s attention. If the bank has requested documents, it is easier to provide them than to look for ways round the rules.

How to track a SWIFT message using the UETR

UETR (Unique End-to-end Transaction Reference) — a unique 36-character payment transaction identifier that is retained in the relevant interbank messages throughout the transfer route. It looks something like this: xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx. Unlike your domestic payment order reference number, the UETR operates throughout the entire banking chain and enables banks to match messages relating to a single transaction and to request available information on its status and route.

Concept MT103 — is a SWIFT message format that has traditionally been used for processing customer payment transfers. Many customers and bank staff still ask for an ‘MT103 confirmation’, meaning a payment confirmation. On 22 November 2025, the co-existence period for MT and ISO 20022 for relevant CBPR+ cross-border payment instructions came to an end. For customer interbank transfers, the following applies in particular: pacs.008. The confirmation from your bank may take a different form to the standard MT103. This is fine — the content is more important than the format name.

SWIFT GPI (Global Payments Innovation) — a platform that enables participating banks to track payments and receive real-time status updates. It is the UETR that is the key to this system. SWIFT official documentation describes how the unique transaction identifier works.

Customers do not usually have direct access to a bank’s internal SWIFT Tracker – this is a tool designed for financial institutions. However, some banks and payment services offer the option to track transfers via an app or a separate service. Please check with your bank to see if this option is available.

What information should you ask the bank for?

• Payment UETR
• Proof of payment (in any format provided by the bank)
• The date, amount and currency of the transfer
• Name and BIC of the beneficiary bank
• Information about the last known processing stage
• Information regarding whether there is an investigation or a request from an intermediary bank

How to write a request

Please use the following template when writing to the bank:

Please could you confirm the current status of the international transfer dated [date] for the amount of [amount and currency], sent to the recipient [name]. Please provide the UETR, payment confirmation, details of the last known stage of processing, and information on whether it is possible to initiate an investigation into the payment.

This is a template for a customer enquiry — please adapt it to your own details. The more accurate your details are, the quicker the bank staff will be able to find the relevant transaction.

The UETR helps to locate a payment within the banking chain, but does not in itself speed up its processing. Its main benefit is to help the bank determine the most recent available status and identify where further verification is required.

What to do if a transfer has been returned

A returned SWIFT transfer isn’t always bad news. But before taking any action, it’s important to check: if the return has only just been initiated, the funds may still be in the banking system. Ask your bank for the status of the return, the reason for the rejection (if available) and details of the expected amount to be credited.

It is important to distinguish between these two cases. Withdrawal prior to performance — when your own bank has not accepted the transfer order (for example, due to an error in the details or a limit being exceeded). Refund of a payment that has already been sent — when the transfer was sent via the network, had travelled part of the way, but was rejected by an intermediary or Georgian bank and is now being returned.

Tracing, recall, return and blocking are not the same thing

Important: a request for a refund does not constitute confirmation of cancellation. If the payment has already been credited to the recipient, the refund process may require further action and agreement.

SWIFT supports Stop and Recall mechanisms for banks. Their technical availability and success depend on the stage of the transaction and the parties involved in the settlement.

In both cases, the first step is to ask the bank reason for rejection. Important: the reason stated on the original payment confirmation and the reason for the refund are two different things. If a payment was accepted but subsequently rejected, ask your bank to provide the available reason for the rejection or refund and, if possible, the relevant code. The scope of the information disclosed may be limited by regulations and compliance requirements.

Why the refund amount may differ from the amount paid: Intermediary banks may deduct their own processing fee. Currency conversion may also take place at one of the stages, which may have affected the final amount. Whether the fee is refunded depends on the bank’s charges, the reason for the refusal and the applicable rules of the specific bank — there are no universal guarantees in this regard.

Example: 50,000 USD was sent, but less was returned

Let’s suppose a buyer sent 50,000 USD for a flat in Batumi. The receiving bank rejected the payment, and the funds were returned to the sender.

This is purely an arithmetic example and does not reflect the current rates charged by any Georgian bank. It is assumed that there are no currency conversions or other deductions.

In this example, 65 USD was deducted from the transfer itself, whilst the customer paid a further 40 USD separately at the time of sending. Actual costs may be higher or lower and depend on the parties involved in the payment and the terms of service.

If the payment relates to the purchase of a flat, the buyer should check separately whether there is any outstanding balance owed to the seller. The bank’s commission and the amount received by the seller are two different figures.

According to Wise, correspondent bank fees may vary depending on the bank and the route, and additional deductions may apply when funds are returned.

Please do not resend the full amount, until you have received an explanation of the reason for the return and have rectified it. A repeat payment with the error still unresolved may also be rejected, which could result in additional costs.

Features of transfers to Georgia

The Georgian banking system operates within the broader international context, but has a number of practical features that are worth being aware of in advance.

First and foremost — A valid Georgian IBAN. A Georgian IBAN begins with the code ‘GE’ and consists of 22 characters. An error in even a single character of the IBAN may result in the transfer being rejected, delayed or routed incorrectly. Bank details should be obtained directly from the recipient or from an official document. The National Bank of Georgia’s validator checks that the IBAN complies with the prescribed format and validation rules, but does not verify the account holder’s identity or confirm that the funds can be credited to the account.

TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia — major commercial banks in Georgia. Both accept international transfers in accordance with the terms of their banking products and compliance procedures. It is not necessarily the case that one is always stricter than the other: each situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

It is important to understand the connection between the currency of remittance and the currency of the recipient’s account. If the currency of the transfer differs from the account currency, the receiving bank may convert the amount in accordance with its own terms — or may refuse to accept the transfer. It is best to clarify this point before sending the transfer, to ensure that the final amount matches your expectations.

Georgian banks are entitled to ask questions about source of funds. This is standard practice, not a sign of suspicion. The likelihood of being asked to provide documents depends on the customer’s profile, the source of the funds, the amount and purpose of the payment, the route taken, and the bank’s risk assessment. If you are transferring money for the first time or sending a large sum, make sure you have the supporting documents ready in advance. You can read more about how to verify the source of funds for a Georgian bank in the article on The Residence website: ‘Proof of the origin of funds in Georgia“.

It is worth bearing in mind that a successful transfer in the past does not guarantee that the next one will go through automatically. The bank may request the documents again if the amount, currency or purpose has changed.

Practical checklist No. 2: documents you should prepare

The list depends on the specific situation — not every client needs all of these documents:

• Identity document (passport)
• Bank statements confirming the source of funds
• Payment reference document: contract, invoice, agreement
• Proof of the source of funds: a statement of income, a contract for the sale of property, documents relating to inheritance, savings and the movement of funds; for a deposit — details of the source of the money deposited into it
• Property Sale and Purchase Agreement — where money is transferred to purchase a flat
• A certificate from your employer or a tax return — if required

Are you planning to buy property in Georgia from abroad?

When choosing a flat, it is important to agree in advance on the currency of payment, the payment schedule and any documents the bank may request. The Residence will help you select properties and clarify the payment terms with the developers.

Find a flat that suits my budget

If you need money to buy a flat

A delay in payment is unpleasant in itself. A delay in payment when the contract deadline is due to expire in three days’ time is a source of stress with specific financial consequences.

Let’s look at three possible scenarios when buying property in Georgia.

Situation 1: An advance payment or deposit has been delayed. It is important to understand the difference: a deposit has independent legal consequences under Articles 421–423 of the Civil Code of Georgia, whereas an advance payment is not equivalent to it. However, the name given to the payment in the contract does not in itself determine its legal status — what matters is its actual legal classification. If you are transferring an advance payment or a deposit as stipulated in the contract, check the legal classification of the amount: the consequences of non-payment and of a refund may differ. The seller or developer may interpret a delay as a lack of intent – it is important to notify the other party in writing as soon as possible, attaching documentary evidence from the bank confirming the status of the payment.

Scenario 2: The developer’s next instalment payment has not gone through. Many buyers of new-build properties in Batumi, Tbilisi and Gonio pay for their flats in instalments. If the contract specifies a particular deadline and provides for a penalty for failure to meet it, a delay in the bank transfer does not automatically extend the deadline. The consequences of late payment and the possibility of exemption from liability depend on the contract, the reasons for the delay and the applicable law, including Article 401 of the Civil Code of Georgia. Review the terms of the contract before taking any action. To find out how instalment plans work when buying property in Georgia, read here: ‘How do property instalment plans work in Georgia?“.

Flats in Georgia with payment in instalments

from ₾468 671

₾4 557/м²

A cosy two-room flat with a view, 102.85 m², in Opus Signature

Batumi, Bagrationi district

Opus Signature

2

1

102.85 m²

2029

from ₾200 084

₾4 427/м²

A one-bedroom flat with a choice of finishes, 45.2 m², in Olive House Gonio

Batumi, Gonio

Olive House Gonio

1

1

45.2 m²

2027

from ₾322 259

₾4 427/м²

A spacious two-room flat with a balcony, measuring 72.8 m², in Olive House Gonio

Batumi, Gonio

Olive House Gonio

2

1

72.8м²

2027

See all

Situation 3: The money has been held up prior to the final settlement. The procedure for the final settlement and the submission of documents for registration are determined by the contract and the transaction structure agreed by the parties. If there is a delay in the transfer, check the agreed deadlines for signing or submitting documents for registration. If the funds are held up just before the formalities are to be completed, agree with all parties to postpone the date until the situation becomes clearer.

A bank delay does not automatically extend the contractual payment deadline. You cannot assume that a developer or seller is obliged to honour a reservation or waive a penalty. Everything is determined by the terms of the specific contract and the applicable law.

What should be done if a developer has received less money than expected?

Let us assume that the contract stipulates a payment of 30,000 USD, but the seller received 29,960 USD due to bank deductions.

In this situation:

1. Ask the recipient for a statement or confirmation of the amount credited.
2. Please check that the amount matches the contract and the terms and conditions governing the allocation of bank charges.
3. Ask the sending bank to provide any available information on fees.
4. Please clarify whether an additional payment is required to cover the difference.
5. If an additional transfer is required, please agree on the amount, currency, purpose and deadline.
6. Obtain written confirmation of the final settlement once your obligations have been fulfilled.

Important: Payment of the commission under the OUR scheme does not constitute an unconditional guarantee that the full contractual amount will be credited. The allocation of bank charges must be taken into account when agreeing on payments.

A hypothetical example (for illustrative purposes): The buyer transfers 70,000 USD for a flat in Batumi. The bank holds up the payment for further verification. There are three working days remaining until the contractual deadline. In this situation, the sensible course of action is: to immediately request a written update from the bank regarding the status of the transfer and an estimated timeframe for its clearance; to contact the developer in writing, attaching the bank’s statement; and to discuss the possibility of a written extension of the payment deadline or the conclusion of a supplementary agreement. You should not send the money again without clarity regarding the first payment.

Practical Checklist No. 3: What a buyer should do in the event of a delay in payment

1. Obtain a written document from the bank confirming the status of the transfer and that it has been sent.
2. Notify the seller or developer in writing of the delay — preferably on the same day.
3. Review the contract: check what it says about payment deadlines, the consequences of late payment and the notification procedure.
4. Discuss a written extension of the term or a supplementary agreement with the seller.
5. Do not make a repeat payment without prior agreement and clarification regarding the first transfer.
6. To agree on the next steps in finalising the transaction with the bank, the agent and the parties to the contract.

Sample letter to a property developer regarding a delay in a SWIFT transfer

Subject: Notification of a delay in a bank transfer under contract No. [number]

I wish to inform you that on [date] I initiated a bank transfer for the sum of [amount and currency] to settle the payment for the property under contract No. [number] dated [date].

According to the sending bank, as at [date], the payment has the status [status]. UETR identifier: [number].

I would ask you to consider extending the payment deadline in writing until [proposed date] or agreeing on an alternative arrangement for settling the payment.

Please find the relevant bank statements attached. Please confirm receipt of this notification and let me know your decision.

[Full name, date, contact details]

The mere fact of sending such a notice does not in itself alter the contractual deadlines, nor does it automatically exempt the party from liability for late performance.

For more information on preparing for a bank transfer when buying property, please read the article: ‘How to transfer money to Georgia to buy property“.

What documents should I send to the developer if the payment has been held up?

To confirm that the payment has actually been initiated, please provide:

1. A bank confirmation of the transfer, stating the date, amount, currency and the recipient’s details.
2. The UETR of the transfer, used to identify the transaction.
3. Written confirmation from the bank regarding the current status, if available.
4. The reference number and date of the request to trace the payment, if the investigation has already begun.
5. A written notice to the seller requesting agreement on the next steps regarding payment.

Please note: confirmation of dispatch does not constitute confirmation of receipt. If the contract requires the full amount to be credited to the seller’s account, a single payment order may not be sufficient to confirm that the obligation has been fulfilled.

Clarify which documents the seller is prepared to accept, and, where possible, formalise the extension of the deadline by means of a supplementary agreement.

Residential complexes in Batumi

Pre-sale

from ₾181 521

₾4 947/м²

Opus Signature

Batumi, Bagrationi district

from 36.69 m²

2029

from ₾262 213

₾4 947/м²

Olive House Gonio

Batumi, Gonio

from 43m²

2027

from ₾120 561

₾3 750/м²

Queen’s Residence

Batumi, Airport area

from 32.16m²

2026

from ₾211 890

₾6 460/м²

SUMMER 365

Batumi, New Boulevard

from 32.8m²

2026

from ₾135 403

₾4 130/м²

Artex Parkline

Batumi, New Boulevard

from 32.8m²

2029

See all

Where can I complain about a delay?

If the bank fails to provide clear answers or delays the investigation, there is a clear escalation procedure.

The first step is to make a formal complaint to your bank. To facilitate any subsequent appeal, it is advisable to submit a written complaint and keep proof of its registration — this document records the circumstances and the date of the complaint. Please state the date of dispatch, the amount, the currency, the UETR, the recipient’s name, a description of the issue and the desired outcome.

If you have encountered a problem with a Georgian financial institution — please consider submitting a request to National Bank of Georgia. On the official customer support page It has been confirmed that the financial institution must consider the claim within one month and notify the claimant of the outcome. This does not guarantee a refund within one month — it refers to the timeframe for consideration and notification. National Bank contact details: telephone +995 32 2 406 406, email cp@nbg.gov.ge.

The National Bank of Georgia is a supervisory authority that investigates complaints regarding the actions of financial institutions operating under its supervision. It does not track every individual international payment and does not guarantee the return of funds.

The Payment Disputes Resolution Commission at the National Bank of Georgia

Georgia has an independent out-of-court mechanism for resolving disputes between users of payment services and the providers of such services. It may be used, in particular, in cases of improper execution of a payment transaction, failure to meet deadlines, or disputed commission charges.

Key specifications:

According to data from the National Bank of Georgia dated 4 September 2026, the maximum amount in the dispute in question has been increased from 50,000 to 100,000 GEL.

The Commission considers cases within the scope of its remit. The presence of a foreign bank or correspondent in the payment chain does not mean that any dispute automatically falls within its jurisdiction. Before submitting a complaint, you should check the conditions governing its admissibility.

If the sending bank is based abroad, after making a claim with the bank, check the procedure for referring the matter to the relevant authority, the financial ombudsman or another dispute resolution mechanism within its jurisdiction.

Practical Checklist No. 4: What to include with your complaint

• Date, amount and currency of the transfer
• Name of the sending bank and the receiving bank, and their BICs
• UETR and payment confirmation
• A copy of the correspondence with the bank, reference numbers
• Description of the problem and the steps taken
• The gist of the request: a refund, an explanation, and compensation for the fee

A complaint is not an automatic mechanism for obtaining a refund. However, it does formally record the issue. If a complaint is lodged with a financial institution supervised by the National Bank of Georgia, the established procedure and timeframe for consideration apply; for foreign banks, the rules of their respective jurisdictions apply.

How to avoid another delay

Once the situation has been resolved, it is worth working out exactly what went wrong — and, where possible, reducing the risk of a further delay.

Please check the payment details just before sending. Obtain the IBAN and BIC directly from the recipient — not from correspondence dating back a year, and not from third-party websites.

Please check with your bank to see if the selected route is available. Ask whether there is a direct correspondent relationship with the Georgian bank, or whether the payment will go via an intermediary.

Please ensure that the payment reference matches the contract. If the transfer relates to a property transaction, the stated purpose must correspond to the actual grounds for the transfer — and be supported by documentary evidence.

How to specify the purpose of a SWIFT transfer when paying for a flat

The payment reference must correspond to the actual contract and the nature of the transfer. For example, if a regular instalment is being paid under a contract of sale, the payment reference could be worded as follows:

Payment under Property Purchase Agreement No. [number] dated [date], instalment [number], property [identifier].

If an advance payment specified in the contract is made, this should be recorded separately. Do not use the terms ‘deposit’, ‘advance’ or ‘final payment’ without checking whether they correspond to the actual legal nature of the payment.

It is best to agree the final wording of the transfer instructions with both the sending and receiving banks before sending the transfer.

Please prepare evidence of the source of the funds in advance. Whether documents are requested depends on the customer’s profile, the source of the funds, the amount and purpose of the payment, the payment route, and the bank’s risk assessment.

Bear in mind the commission structures. Option OUR This means that the sender is expected to pay the transfer fees; the actual amount credited, net of any deductions, depends on the participating banks and their fees. SHA — The sender pays their bank’s fees; any other costs may be charged to the recipient. BEN — Transfer fees are payable by the recipient and may be deducted from the amount received. Before making the payment, please check with your bank regarding the terms and conditions for your chosen transfer method.

Do not use intermediaries with non-transparent terms and conditions. If the fees, route and timeframes are not clearly stated, this is a reason to look for another channel.

The main practical rule for property buyers: Banking training should be completed well in advance, rather than on the very last day before the agreed payment deadline. Gathering the necessary documents, opening an account and making the first payment – all of this takes time. To find out how to organise your purchase from start to finish, read the guide: ‘How to buy property in Georgia: a step-by-step guide“.

Are you looking for a flat in Georgia and want to sort out the payment terms in advance?

We’ll find options in Batumi, Tbilisi and Gonio, taking into account your budget, your planned purchase date and your preferred payment schedule.

Receive a personalised selection of properties

Conclusion

A delayed or returned SWIFT transfer is an issue with a clear course of action. Firstly, establish the actual status of the payment by requesting the UETR and confirmation from the bank. Secondly, you need to find out the reason for the delay or return and, if necessary, initiate a formal investigation. Thirdly, you must resolve the issue before resending the money.

The fact that the money has been debited from the sender’s account does not yet confirm that it has been credited to the recipient’s account. These are different events that may be separated by hours or days — or even longer, if further checks are carried out.

When buying property, there is an additional task to consider: monitoring the contractual deadlines. Bank processing times and contractual obligations run in parallel, each requiring its own attention. Notify the other party in writing, obtain the relevant document from the bank and agree on the next steps — without waiting for the matter to be resolved automatically.

If the bank fails to respond or delays its reply, proceed to lodge a formal complaint. If you have a dispute with a Georgian financial institution, contact the National Bank of Georgia. If you have a dispute with a bank in another country, check the procedure for contacting the relevant regulatory authority or financial ombudsman within that country’s jurisdiction.

What happens next with the held transfer depends on the reason for the hold and the banks’ decisions. Keep your documents and ensure you obtain confirmation of the transaction’s status — this is the only way to take the right steps.