Finance
Chinese-Owned BasisBank Acquires Controlling Stake in Georgia's Liberty Bank
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 16, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 16, 2026
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Quick Summary
BasisBank, controlled by China’s Hualing Group, has acquired a 95.99% stake in Georgia’s Liberty Bank, the country’s third‑largest lender with ~5.5% market share in mid‑2025. The merger boosts BasisBank’s retail lending reach and aligns with China’s growing economic ties with Georgia.
BasisBank Purchases 95.99% Stake in Georgia’s Liberty Bank, Strengthening Market Position
Strategic Acquisition and Its Impact on Georgia’s Banking Sector
Details of the Acquisition
TBILISI, April 16 (Reuters) - Georgia's BasisBank, owned by Chinese conglomerate Hualing Group, has acquired a 95.99% ownership stake in Liberty Bank, the South Caucasus country's third-largest lender, BasisBank said on Thursday.
Liberty Bank is Georgia's third-largest bank by assets, with 5.5% market share as of June 2025.
Statements from BasisBank Leadership
Commitment to Market Competition and Customer Value
"Through this transaction, we are strengthening competition in the market while delivering greater value to our customers," David Tsaava, general director of BasisBank, said in a statement.
Expansion of Financing and Economic Growth
"With increased capacity, we will expand access to financing and unlock new opportunities for businesses, playing a significant role in driving Georgia's economic growth."
Hualing Group’s Growing Presence in Georgia
Previous Banking Acquisitions
Hualing Group, based in China's Xinjiang region, has snapped up several banking assets in Georgia in recent years. It bought a controlling stake in BasisBank in 2012 and purchased Societe Generale's controlling stake in Bank Republic in 2016.
Strengthening Economic Ties Between Georgia and China
Trade Growth and Bilateral Relations
Tbilisi has significantly boosted its economic relations with Beijing in the past decade, with China now serving as Georgia's fourth-largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached $2.7 billion in 2025, a 19.5% jump from the previous year, according to Beijing's ambassador in Tbilisi.
(Reporting by Lucy Papachristou Editing by Andrew Osborn )
Key Takeaways
- •BasisBank now controls nearly all of Liberty Bank, combining market share to over 10%, strengthening its competitive position under Georgian regulator thresholds (interfax.com).
- •Liberty Bank held about 5.5% of Georgian banking assets as of June 2025, making it the country’s third‑largest bank (interfax.com).
- •The acquisition enhances BasisBank’s retail lending presence: its share in credit placements could rise from ~4.5% to ~9.5% post‑merger (gbc.ge).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Chinese-owned BasisBank acquires controlling stake in Georgia's Liberty Bank
1Who acquired the controlling stake in Georgia's Liberty Bank?
BasisBank, owned by Chinese conglomerate Hualing Group, acquired a 95.99% stake in Liberty Bank.
2How large is Liberty Bank’s market share in Georgia?
Liberty Bank holds a 5.5% market share, making it the third-largest lender in Georgia by assets.
3What is the significance of the transaction according to BasisBank?
BasisBank says the acquisition will boost competition, expand financing access, and help drive Georgia's economic growth.
4What other banking assets has Hualing Group purchased in Georgia?
Hualing Group previously acquired controlling stakes in BasisBank in 2012 and Bank Republic from Societe Generale in 2016.
5How have China-Georgia trade relations evolved recently?
Bilateral trade reached $2.7 billion in 2025, rising 19.5% from the previous year, with China as Georgia’s fourth-largest trading partner.