Which payment methods do Georgian citizens use for paying their utility bills?

Which payment methods do Georgians use for paying their utility bills?

We have studied the methods of payments of utility bills throughout Georgia.

Bill payment Kiosk is the most common means of paying utility bills. Next come internet/mobile banking and visits to a bank, whose share rises with the age of the respondents (consequently, the share of internet/mobile banking declines). It should be noted that only in Tbilisi mobile/internet banking is more popular than bill payment kiosks. The usage of banking products remains at low level in regions like Kakheti and Samtskhe-Javakheti. A lot needs to be done to popularize modern banking methods among Georgian citizens. 

Graph 1: Distribution of methods of payment of utility bills

Bill payment kiosks and internet/mobile banks are the most popular means of payment. 49.9% of respondents use pay box, 33% use internet/mobile banks, 17.5% visit a bank. 2.5% of respondents use other means of payments, while 0.2% of respondents indicated using different means of payments at different times.  

Graph 2: Distribution of methods of payment by regions

As shown in the graph, bill payment kiosks are the most popular means of payment of utility bills among respondents, followed by mobile/internet banking. That picture is prevalent in almost all the regions except the capital city, ranging from share of kiosks of 70% in Kakheti (where the share of payments via mobile/internet bank was lowest at 28%) and 32% in Tbilisi. In the capital city mobile/internet banking is the most common means of payment. That indicates at more familiarity of citizens of capital with modern technologies. 

Graph3: Distribution of methods of payment by age groups

Bill payment kiosks, internet/mobile banks and visits to bank are the most common means of payment of electricity bills. Bank visits follow an upward trend, measuring at 8% among individuals aged 19-25 and 34% among individuals aged 65 and older. Share of kiosks is the highest among individuals aged 45-54. Their share declines in older respondents, most probably because of increased visits to bank to pay the bills. The usage of internet/mobile banks follows declining trend, measuring around 44% in individuals aged 19-24 and reaching the lowest 14% among individuals aged 65 and older (that's something to be expected because younger people are more familiar with mobile/internet banking). 

Source: N=1000, URBAN/RURAL GEORGIA, Period- July, 2021