Best Bank in Turkey

For those who prefer a fully digital banking experience with flexible money transfer features, Ogvio might very well be the best international bank in Turkey for foreigners and locals. This digital bank (aka, neobank) outshines many of its competitors with a powerful yet user-friendly money transfer workflow and low fees.

You can send money to over 160 countries and regions using Ogvio's free and instant internal transfers. For bank transfers, it uses local payment rails, which keep transfer fees to a minimum. For example, if you send TRY to a Turkish bank account, you'll do it via FAST Instant. However, if you send, let's say, BRL to a Brazilian bank account, you'll do that via PIX Instant.

Even though the amount you'll pay for each transfer depends on the specific sender-and-destination country combo, the fees are very competitive and always shown upfront.

	OGVIO
Overall Score	9.8
Transaction Fees	Free-to-Low
Pricing Model	Per-transaction
Value For Money
Verdict	A global money transfer service with an additional volatile currency rate pegging to USD or EUR.
	Visit site Read review

Table: Ogvio features

Ogvio supports depositing money into your account via a bank transfer, mobile wallet, credit/debit card, crypto wallet, or receiving money from another Ogvio user.

Besides, Ogvio accounts are USD or EUR-denominated, meaning that no matter which of the available currencies you deposit, the app automatically converts them to either USD or EUR as a way to prevent your balance from depreciating.

Ogvio's blockchain-based architecture gives it some unique benefits. For one thing, the funds on your Ogvio account are stored in secure decentralized vaults, instead of getting passed through various intermediaries or other third parties, which inevitably comes with a risk of cyber attacks.

Each Ogvio wallet is protected by 256-bit AES encryption, and you can set a transaction PIN feature for added security. Plus, the company holds a FinCEN MSB license in the US.

Thanks to its underlying infrastructure, this app also doubles as a self-custodial crypto wallet - and potentially the best bank to use in Turkey for buying or selling crypto alongside fiat.

You can deposit and withdraw USDC on Base, but you can also swap it for other supported crypto and hold them non-custodially on Ogvio, including BTC, ETH, and EURC. Besides, you can even send crypto as cash to anyone's bank account.

The upcoming Ogvio card will bring this neobank even closer to its traditional counterparts. You'll be able to top it up with any of the supported currencies or crypto tokens and use it for both online and in-store payments, as well as ATM cash withdrawals globally.

If not your main bank in Turkey, Ogvio can definitely be a great addition to your financial setup.

📚 Learn More: What is a Neobank and Should You Use It

Founded in 1863, Ziraat is the largest bank in Turkey, with total assets reaching 7.9 trillion TRY ($184 billion). Thanks to its vast network of 1,782 branches in the country, many consider it to be the best bank to withdraw money in Turkey: you definitely won't have an issue finding a local branch or ATM, no matter where you live.

If you're an individual customer looking for a current account, you have three options. The Turkish Lira Account is the go-to option for most Turkish nationals. The Başak account, on the other hand, is a special type of investment account: any balance over 5,000 TRY is automatically invested in one of the bank's funds.

When it comes to savings options, Ziraat Bank features both flexible savings accounts (Regular Savings Order) and several types of Time Deposit accounts. Savings Order accounts come in several versions, each supporting deposits in TRY, foreign currencies (USD, EUR, or GBP), gold, or credit card, respectively. Meanwhile, the Turkish Lira Time Deposit Account allows locking in the deposit for 1-730 days.

Ziraat Bank's card lineup includes six options in total. Bankkart is the standard debit card for online and in-store payments or ATM cash withdrawals (it also supports paying in installments if you have an overdraft account). Meanwhile, Kampüs Kart is a special student-oriented bank card that doubles as a university ID card. Ziraat Bank also offers a two-in-one type of card that combines both credit and debit card features.

For those who need a one-stop hub for bills or other types of recurring payments, Ziraat Bank is one of the best options. You can set up a direct debit to pay your phone, internet, or utility bills, tuition, fees, or taxes. Ziraat Bank also participates in Turkey's OGS (electronic toll collection) system, selling OGS stickers linked to customers' accounts.

Besides, Ziraat Bank integrates with Western Union for convenient money transfers. You can set up a payment (a maximum of $7,500 per day) on the online banking platform, mobile app, or by visiting a physical branch and filling out a form, while your recipient can collect their money online or in a branch.

One of the largest private banks in the country, İşbank has more than 1,900 branches nationwide, 7,470+ ATMs, and subsidiaries in 11 other countries, including the United Kingdom and Bahrain. In the corporate world, İşbank is known for its agricultural banking services, but for private customers, it might still be the best bank in Turkey for foreigners, and one of the top choices for Turkish nationals, as well.

İşbank offers three types of current accounts (called Non-Term Deposits). The Non-Term TL is a basic and accessible account that lets you make money transfers, pay utility bills, give standing payment orders, or withdraw cash from any İşbank ATM. It comes with a Bankamatik debit card. Alternatively, you can opt for a foreign currency account or a gold deposit account with no extra commission.

If you're in the market for a savings account, the Term TL offers a flexible arrangement: you can pick a time deposit with a fixed interest rate for 1/3/6 months, 1/2/3 years, or any other time period up to 1096 days. There's also an equivalent account in foreign currency. Meanwhile, the Fixed Account has a term of 1 to 3 years, with interest payments at 1, 3, 6, or 12-month intervals.

Unfortunately, İşbank's card selection is pretty meagre. There's only one debit card, with a daily ATM withdrawal limit of 1,500 TRY or 800 USD. On the plus side, the credit cards have no maintenance or renewal fees for customers whose salary is paid through İşbank. The Maximum Card lets you earn MaxiPoints and exchange them for cash in member stores.

The bank's mobile app, İşCep, is pretty much on par with the online platform when it comes to most features. It comes with built-in budgeting and reporting tools and an option to withdraw cash with a QR code. It's also the first mobile banking app in Turkey that lets users transfer money with Siri. İşCep has an Apple Watch app alongside a mobile iOS app.

Like most competitors on this list, İşbank makes it easy to pay your bills online. You can set up automatic payment orders to be covered by your credit card (and earn MaxiPoints in return) or pay Avea bills using the barcode scanners on ATMs.

Founded in 1946, Garanti BBVA has grown into one of the largest banks in the country, with total assets of $81,680 (as of January 2026). It offers private and corporate banking services, with a decent range of current and savings accounts, financing products, and digital banking services.

If you're looking for the best bank to use in Turkey for a current account, Garanti BBVA has a few picks for various use cases. The TL Current Account comes with a Paracard Bonus debit card. There's no account management fee, but you'll be charged an account statement fee of 32,64 TRY (or 0.45 EUR if it's the foreign currency version).

The currency selection for the FX Current Account easily makes Garanti BBVA the best bank in Turkey for foreigners (or one of them, at any rate). You can choose between opening an account in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, MTL, NOK, SAR, SEK, or RUB.

For those interested in saving-oriented products, Garanti BBVA offers 4 types of savings accounts and 5 time deposit accounts. The NET Account has no lock-in (you can withdraw money any time) and no minimum balance, featuring a tiered interest rate system, while the Smart Saving Account sets up automatic purchases of stocks, bonds, precious metals, or other investment products according to the set risk parameters.

You'll find 2 debit card options. Paracard Bonus is a basic debit card for shopping or cash withdrawals, while Paracard Bonus Platinum adds a few perks like zero-fee ATM withdrawals and contactless payments. In contrast, Garanti BBVA's credit card collection is much more diverse; the Bonus cards are geared for earning reward points, while Miles&Smiles and Shop&Fly are the best options for travel discounts.

Garanti BBVA has not one, but several mobile apps. The main Garanti BBVA Mobile app brings the full-fledged online banking experience to your phone for easy money transfers or ATM withdrawals with a QR code. Meanwhile, eTrader is a great companion app for managing your investment portfolio, with TradingView integration and advanced analytics features.

One of the largest private banks in Turkey, Yapi Kredi Bank, might be the best bank in Turkey for foreign residents in need of an accessible and customer-friendly option. It offers savings accounts, mortgages, insurance, a range of investment products, and a solid online banking platform.

Aside from a basic current account (available in either TRY or foreign currencies), you'll find several types of time deposit accounts, a high-yield e-Deposit account that can be opened and managed exclusively online, as well as gold deposit accounts. All deposits held by private customers in the Turkish branches are covered by insurance up to 100,000 TRY.

Yapi Kredi Bank's standard debit card (TLcard) supports cashback earning and cash withdrawals from any ATMs that accept Visa or Mastercard. You can withdraw money from Unicredit ATMs in certain European countries free of charge, but withdrawals in most other countries are quite pricey at $3 per transaction.

Those looking for an easy way to get started with investing can try one of Yapi Kredi's 10 Mutual Funds or other investment products like equities, government bonds, or treasury bills. You can open one of the 4 available investment accounts or book a consultation on portfolio management.

When it comes to money transfers, Yapi Kredi Bank has more than a few options on the table. Aside from domestic and international bank transfers, you can send money through the Western Union network, with more than 410,000 agent locations worldwide for cash pickups.

One of the neat bonus services you might appreciate is Safe Deposit Boxes: you can rent a locker for storing documents or other valuables. They come in three different sizes, and each locker is covered by Yapi Kredi Bank's burglary insurance. The lockers are available both for private individuals and corporations.

QNB Bank A.Ş. is part of a large international network, encompassing 26 countries in total. With 420+ branches nationwide, it might not be the best bank to withdraw money in Turkey in terms of accessibility and branch coverage, but it's definitely up there when it comes to services for international customers.

Its Demand Deposit account functions as a standard current account, with no limits on withdrawals. It's available in TRY or foreign currencies and supports free internal bank transfers to other QNB accounts, as well as EFTs and other bank transfers. As most other QBN Bank accounts, it's fully compatible with the mobile and online banking platforms.

Other than that, you can choose between a Gold Account, two types of Regular Savings Accounts (currency or gold-based), and several time deposit accounts. The Daily Yield and Flexible Time Accounts have the benefit of on-demand withdrawals, while the Time Deposit Account (and its digital version, e-Deposit) has a fixed term of 1 to 1,100 days.

QNB Bank A.Ş. only offers one type of credit and eight credit cards. The QNB Nakit Debit Card supports contactless payments up to 500 TRY and cash withdrawals from any ATM with an Electron, Plus, Maestro, or Cirrus logo. The QNB Credit Card features cashback points and an option to pay in installments. Unlike many other candidates on this list, it also offers a virtual credit card.

In contrast to many other banks that treat international customers as more of an afterthought, QNB's Vadistanbul International Branch is possibly the best international bank in Turkey. It provides customer support in Turkish, English, Arabic, and French, free legal help for those applying for Turkish citizenship, and more.

The QNB Mobil app integrates with Western Union through a "Quick Pay" contract. You can make international money transfers in TRY, EUR, or USD on the mobile app or by visiting a local QNB branch, while your recipient can pick up the money in any of Western Union's agent locations in their country.

Founded in 1948, Akbank has won numerous awards over the years as the best bank in Turkey by Euromoney, Global Finance, and others. While its international reach isn't as wide as that of some other major banks in Turkey, it still offers extensive services for expats, as well as multinational banking products.

Akbank's TRY-denominated current account is compatible with the Akbank Debit Card, Credit Card, Overdraft Account, and Investment Account, as well as the online and mobile banking platforms. You can also use it to set up automated bill or credit card balance payments. The Foreign Currency Account offers equivalent features and is available in 12 currencies.

Meanwhile, the Time Deposit Account with a fixed interest rate is one of the most attractive options for savings, allowing a term period between 7 and 400 days. If you pick a term shorter than 1 month, the minimum opening balance is 250,000 TRY, while terms of 1 month or above require a lower opening balance of 10,000 TRY.

The Akbank Debit Card comes with a built-in rewards feature, giving out "chip-points" for purchases at Axess loyalty merchants. It also supports splitting any purchase from these merchants exceeding 50 TRY into instalments, while many competitors only offer this feature for credit cards. On top of that, you'll get priority service at Akbank branches.

Akbank's Expat Banking services make a good starting point for foreign nationals. You'll get help managing assets denominated in multiple currencies and access tax advice consultations. There are also insurance packages specifically designed for expats and a few other perks, including a 50% discount on safe deposit boxes and free EFT transfers during business hours.

If you prefer mobile banking, the Akbank mobile app features a customizable homepage, biometric security, and the same functionalities you'll find on the bank's online platform, including money transfers through Western Union. Alternatively, there's an option to book transfers in-branch by filling out the "Funds Collection" form.