Beyond the plain bank account, the Bank of Georgia group also offers a full securities depot through its investment bank, Galt & Taggart. This article explains what the Galt & Taggart depot is, which investments and markets it covers, who it suits – and how it combines with your SOLO account.
What Galt & Taggart is
The Galt & Taggart depot is run by Galt & Taggart – the investment-banking subsidiary of the Bank of Georgia group (Lion Finance Group). Galt & Taggart was founded in 1995, is licensed and regulated by the National Bank of Georgia and is regarded as the country's largest brokerage house. The company covers five core areas: investment banking, asset management, wealth management, brokerage and an in-house research department.
For you as an individual, the brokerage area is above all relevant: through it you can open a personal Galt & Taggart depot – a securities account that bundles access to domestic and foreign markets. The depot thereby complements your bank account with a dedicated investment layer, all within the same banking group outside the EU.
The execution-brokerage depot
At the heart of the offering is the so-called execution-brokerage account – a personal Galt & Taggart depot through which a dedicated broker executes orders on your behalf. It is a classic, non-leveraged securities account. Via a client dashboard you keep an overview of your investments and holdings.
| Asset class | in the Galt & Taggart depot |
|---|---|
| Stocks | international & regional shares |
| ETFs & funds | broadly diversified index products and funds |
| Bonds | international as well as Georgian corporate bonds |
| Structured products | depending on availability |
The Galt & Taggart depot is an execution depot, not a leverage or trading account. It suits medium- to long-term wealth building – not speculative day trading. Anyone who brings a clear investment strategy uses it most sensibly. Opening the depot via CMC costs a one-off EUR 490.
Access to markets
A key advantage of the Galt & Taggart depot is its market coverage. Through the brokerage you gain access to the major international markets – including the US, Europe, Canada and Australia – as well as to harder-to-reach regional markets in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Added to this are the local Georgian market and exclusive initial placements of Georgian corporate bonds.
The Galt & Taggart depot thus covers both the classic developed-market exchanges and niches that are only hard to reach via many European brokers. For a geographically broad investment strategy, that is a genuine added value.
Custody and security
Securities in the Galt & Taggart depot are held via established international custodians (depositary banks). That is an important point: your securities do not sit "somewhere" but in the familiar infrastructure of the international securities business. Galt & Taggart acts as a licensed broker supervised by the National Bank.
Important: a securities depot is not a savings account. Investments are subject to market risk – the value can rise and fall, and a loss of the capital invested is possible. The Galt & Taggart depot is a tool for deliberate investment decisions. CMC is not an investment adviser and gives no investment recommendations.
Open to non-residents too
The Galt & Taggart depot is expressly open to investors not resident in Georgia. As with any reputable brokerage, identity and anti-money-laundering checks (KYC/AML) apply, as do the relevant sanctions and compliance rules. For most clients from German-speaking countries, access is uncomplicated; we clarify the precise suitability in advance.
Interplay with the SOLO account
The Galt & Taggart depot becomes especially sensible in combination with your SOLO account at Bank of Georgia. The account holds your liquidity in several currencies, the depot your securities – both within the same banking group outside the EU. This creates a clean separation between cash and investment and, at the same time, a geographically diversified overall structure.
We accompany you in connecting the Galt & Taggart depot to your account – from the preliminary review through the documents to the opening. This way you get account and depot from one source, with German-speaking support.
Who the depot suits
The Galt & Taggart depot is aimed at everyone who wants to set up their wealth not only as a bank balance but also as a securities investment outside the EU. This includes investors who deliberately seek a second, independent investment relationship, as well as internationally active entrepreneurs who want to spread liquidity and securities geographically. Anyone seeking access to regional markets or Georgian corporate bonds finds it here in a form not available via many European brokers.
Less suitable is the depot for pure short-term speculation or for investors who are solely after the cheapest standard ETF savings plans – there are simpler solutions for that in the home market. The actual value of the Galt & Taggart depot lies in diversification and access, not in pure cost leadership.
Concrete fees, minimum volumes and tradable instruments follow the prevailing terms of Galt & Taggart and may change. We clarify the points relevant to you before opening.
Conclusion
The Galt & Taggart depot turns banking access in Georgia into a full investment platform: a regulated securities depot at the country's leading investment bank, with access to international and regional markets, international custody and an open door to non-residents too. In combination with the SOLO account, a well-thought-out structure of liquidity and investment emerges – outside the EU, with German-speaking support from CMC.
How opening the depot works step by step
Opening a Galt & Taggart depot connects seamlessly to your SOLO account. After the profile review, Galt & Taggart provides the depot documents; the usual identity and anti-money-laundering checks (KYC/AML) as well as sanctions and compliance rules apply. Once approved, you receive access to a client dashboard through which you keep track of holdings and orders.
It is a classic, non-leveraged execution-brokerage depot: a dedicated broker executes orders on your behalf. Cash sits in the bank account, securities in the depot – both within the same banking group outside the EU, but cleanly separated in law. Custody is handled via established international depositaries.
Opening via CMC costs a one-off EUR 490; ongoing conditions follow the Galt & Taggart tariff. The depot suits medium- to long-term wealth building, not speculative day trading. Securities investments are subject to market risk; CMC is not an investment adviser. For more on the investment range, see our article on investing via Georgia.
Frequently asked questions about Galt & Taggart depot
What is the Galt & Taggart depot?
A securities depot at Galt & Taggart, the investment-banking subsidiary of the Bank of Georgia group. Through the personal execution-brokerage account you can invest in stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds and structured products – with access to international and regional markets.
Can non-residents open a depot?
Yes. The Galt & Taggart depot is open to investors not resident in Georgia. Identity and anti-money-laundering checks (KYC/AML) apply, as do sanctions and compliance rules. We clarify the precise suitability in advance.
Which markets are accessible via the depot?
Among others the US, Europe, Canada and Australia, as well as harder-to-reach regional markets in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the local Georgian market and Georgian corporate bonds.
Is a securities depot safe?
Securities are held via established international custodians, and Galt & Taggart is a broker licensed by the National Bank of Georgia. Investments are, however, subject to market risk – a loss of capital is possible. CMC is not an investment adviser.