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Garanti BBVA Kripto Launches OTC Platform

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Garanti BBVA Kripto Launches OTC Platform

Garanti BBVA Kripto has launched its new OTC platform, developed for customers who prefer to buy and sell high-volume crypto assets quickly and easily. Offering a fully digital, self-service experience, Garanti BBVA Kripto OTC allows users to trade 24/7 at the price they see instantly on screen, without having to wait for a price quote.

Continuing to offer secure and innovative solutions in the crypto asset ecosystem, Garanti BBVA Kripto has rolled out its new OTC (Over-the-Counter) platform, which allows high-volume transactions to be carried out securely, independent of the order book.

Offered in addition to the existing “Simple Buy-Sell” and “Advanced Buy-Sell” features in the Garanti BBVA Kripto mobile app, the OTC trading model allows investors to easily carry out large-value transactions directly through the digital platform.

Zero Commission and Trading at Real-Time Prices

Designed for high-volume traders, the Garanti BBVA Kripto OTC trading model offers a fully digital, self-service experience, 24/7 access, real-time price display, and instant execution. Prices are published on the platform in real time, and users can complete transactions directly at the price they see. By allowing transactions to take place without entering the order book, the model provides a more controlled trading experience for high-value transactions and offers a structure that eliminates the risk of price slippage.

Onur Güven: “High-volume trading is now as easy as a standard buy-sell transaction”

Garanti BBVA Kripto CEO Onur Güven commented on the new Garanti BBVA Kripto OTC Platform, saying:

“In crypto asset markets, high-volume transactions often turn into a time-consuming or negative experience due to phone calls, messaging, waiting for price quotes, and manual approval processes. We aimed to digitize this experience end-to-end and offer our customers a faster, easier, and more accessible trading model. With our new OTC service, our users can trade 24/7 at the prices they see instantly on the platform. This allows us to provide a more controlled, practical, and uninterrupted experience for high-volume transactions, independent of the order book. While our strong technological infrastructure makes the OTC experience as easy as standard buy-sell transactions, we continue to offer user-focused and innovative solutions in the crypto asset ecosystem.”

Garanti BBVA Kripto OTC Platform Launch Celebrated with a Private Event

Garanti BBVA Kripto celebrated the launch of its OTC platform with an invitation-only event attended by select customers. At the event, held at Rixos Tersane Istanbul, attendees learned about the advantages offered by Garanti BBVA Kripto’s OTC platform and had the opportunity to be among the first customers to experience the service. Hosted by Garanti BBVA Kripto CEO Onur Güven, the evening featured discussions of the company’s growth vision, corporate goals, and the value the OTC platform will bring to investors. Enriched with exclusive experiences and networking opportunities, the event was a strong reflection of the importance Garanti BBVA Kripto places on customer experience and the close relationships it builds with its investors.

Garanti BBVA Kripto OTC initially launched with USD-based trading pairs. The platform offers BTC/USD, ETH/USD, SOL/USD, XRP/USD, USDC/USD, AVAX/USD, and USDT/USD trading pairs, while TRY-based trading pairs became available as of July 2. The OTC service has been positioned as a third trading area on the Garanti BBVA Kripto platform’s Buy-Sell screen, alongside the Simple Buy/Sell and Advanced Buy/Sell sections. Access to the OTC platform will be enabled for customers who request it, following the necessary evaluations.

Burgan Bank and ON Dijital Win 8 Awards at the Global Business & Finance Magazine Awards

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Burgan Bank and ON Dijital Win 8 Awards at the Global Business & Finance Magazine Awards

Burgan Bank has been honored with 8 awards at the “Global Business & Finance Magazine Awards 2026.” Burgan Bank received four awards for its achievements in sustainability vision and leadership, while the bank’s digital banking platform, ON Dijital, won awards in four separate digital banking categories. The awards covered work carried out in the fields of digital banking, customer experience, sustainability, and leadership.

With the “Excellence in ESG Strategy and Practices in Turkey” and “Turkey’s Best ESG Strategy” awards, the bank once again earned international recognition for its resolute approach to sustainability and its successful practices in the environmental, social, and governance domains.

Burgan Bank Deputy CEO of Financial Management Zeynep Bozkurt was also awarded “Turkey’s Best Female Leader in the Banking Sector” and “Turkey’s Banking Sector Finance Leader (CFO) of the Year.”

ON Dijital wins “Best Digital Bank” award

Burgan Bank’s digital banking platform ON Dijital demonstrated its strong position in digital banking by winning awards in four separate categories for mobile user experience, digital accessibility, innovative platform structure, and its approach to social responsibility.

ON Dijital won the awards for “Turkey’s Best Digital Bank,” “Turkey’s Best Mobile Banking Experience,” “Turkey’s Leading Digital Banking Platform,” and “Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative in Digital Banking.”

Burgan Bank CEO Murat Dinç noted that being recognized with 8 awards by an internationally respected platform was extremely valuable for the bank, and stated:

“The fact that ON Dijital’s customer-centric approach to digitalization, and Burgan Bank’s sustainability vision and strong corporate structure, have been recognized at an international level shows that we are moving in the right direction. The recognition of the individual leadership achievements of our Deputy CEO of Financial Management, Zeynep Bozkurt, was also a source of particular pride for us. In the period ahead, we will continue to generate value for our customers, employees, and stakeholders.”

Yapı Kredi Launches FRWRD AI Academy Program

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Yapı Kredi Launches FRWRD AI Academy Program

Developed in partnership with the International Training, Research and Application Center for Executives and Leaders (CIFAL Istanbul) — affiliated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) — and Bahçeşehir University, the program will see high school students take part in a comprehensive learning process spanning artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Running for eight weeks in a hybrid format, the program will give students the opportunity to closely engage with the technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem through training sessions, hands-on workshops, mentoring meetings, teamwork, and meetings organized with industry professionals. Throughout the program, students will also be supported by peer mentors, ensuring young people are introduced early on to a culture of teamwork, shared experience, and collaborative creation.

Students who successfully complete the program will be entitled to receive a certificate approved by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. Students will also benefit from advanced learning opportunities, digital internship possibilities, and experiences that allow them to make direct contact with the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

“We support young people staying one step ahead with technology”

Yapı Kredi Deputy CEO Yakup Doğan noted that in the age of artificial intelligence, it is important for young people to grow not merely as users of technology, but as individuals who understand it, develop it, and are able to harness it to generate social benefit.

Stating that the program was designed to support young people in becoming competent individuals in the field of technology, Doğan pointed out that the transformation taking place in AI, entrepreneurship, and innovation is reshaping every area of life — from the business world to education, and from the finance sector to daily life.

Emphasizing that they view preparing young people for the world of the future as a strategic investment in the country’s future, Doğan stated:

“We believe that the knowledge and experience our students will gain through this program will make a significant difference in both their academic and professional lives. We are also aware of how valuable the strong collaboration between the International Training, Research and Application Center for Executives and Leaders, affiliated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and Bahçeşehir University is for our young people. We aim for this journey, which begins with a pilot phase, to reach wider audiences in the coming years and for many more young people to engage with the technologies that are shaping the future.”

İşbank CEO Hakan Aran Meets WorkupOnBoard Entrepreneur Candidates

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İşbank CEO Hakan Aran Meets WorkupOnBoard Entrepreneur Candidates

WorkupOnBoard, launched for high school students by the Workup Entrepreneurship Program — whose main supporter is Türkiye İş Bankası (İşbank) — offers an end-to-end product development experience. As part of the program, 20 high school students are taking part in a three-week program running from July 6 to July 24.

Over the course of the three-week program, students use AI-powered tools to identify a real-world problem, develop their own minimum viable products (MVPs), and prepare to pitch their projects to investors and ecosystem stakeholders at the end of the program.

İşbank CEO Hakan Aran and members of the bank’s senior management met with the students as part of the program.

“The earlier you master AI, the better you’ll do your job”

Speaking at the meeting held aboard İş Vapur (İşbank’s ferry), Hakan Aran said İşbank is an institution that believes in young people and in the future of artificial intelligence, adding that AI will leave its mark on young people’s university years and their careers beyond.

Noting that in whatever profession they choose, young people will be able to use AI tools highly effectively to generate software through voice commands, Aran said: “You may be interested in economics, history, psychology, physics, or mathematics when choosing a career. Whichever field you choose, if you manage to master the use of artificial intelligence, the path ahead will be open to you and you will make a difference in your profession. AI is currently a fundamental technology that is penetrating every profession. The earlier you master it, the better you will do your job in the future.”

Noting that the technology is becoming an increasingly easy-to-use tool, Aran continued:

“Those interested in health, genetics, biology, chemistry, education, and space research will be able to develop far more creative solutions using AI. Those curious about the human brain and its learning mechanisms will be able to make very different discoveries by using AI. For those interested in computers and physics, quantum physics and quantum computers will open up a wonderful window ahead of them. Be ready to think about things that have never been considered before and to solve problems that have never been solved. From biology to physics, from mathematics to space technologies, there is an untouched, virgin future in many fields. If you want to prepare today for the professions of the future, you can reach wonderful places by making strong use of all these technologies in these fields.”

Hesap.com’s H1 Analysis: Personal Loan Demand Up 14.6%, Mortgage Volume on the Rise

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Hesap.com’s H1 Analysis: Personal Loan Demand Up 14.6%, Mortgage Volume on the Rise

Shifts in loan demand, changing savings preferences, and a transforming risk outlook have created a new equilibrium in personal finance. According to Hesap.com’s first-half analysis, demand for personal (consumer) loans grew 14.6%, falling short of inflation, while mortgage loan volume trended upward. Gold, typically a safe haven, caused losses for investors in the second quarter, while term deposits became the go-to destination for savings returns.

Geopolitical tensions, uncertainty in trade policy, and diverging monetary policies — all of which intensified across the global economy in the first half of 2026 — brought new equilibriums to financial markets, while also driving new trends in how individuals in Turkey borrow, save, and invest. According to the first-half analysis by Hesap.com, a technology-focused banking products marketplace aimed at helping users make more informed and efficient financial decisions, personal loan growth of 14.6% during the period lagged behind inflation, which stood at 17.76%.

Clear jump in personal loans in June

On a monthly basis, after a slowdown in May caused by the Eid al-Adha holiday, pent-up demand kicked in during June and loan demand accelerated noticeably. The sharpest jump was seen in personal loans, which grew just 0.3% in May before reaching 4.7% in June. Auto loans continued to contract, while credit card spending grew 1.3% in June, bringing first-half growth to 15.2%. Mortgage loans maintained a steady pace of 2.1% growth in both months.

Mortgage loan volume trending upward

Home sales fell 3.1% year-on-year in the January–June period, while mortgage-financed home sales rose 32.2%. As cash sales continued to be weighed down by the pullback in gold prices and returns on deposits, mortgage-financed sales posted strong growth of 72.1% in June, with mortgage-financed sales accounting for a 20% share of total sales.

Mortgage loan volume, which grew 13.6% in the first half of last year — rising from 513.5 billion TRY to 583.2 billion TRY — saw its growth pace increase markedly in the same period of 2026, climbing from 679.2 billion TRY to 800.5 billion TRY, a growth rate of 17.8%.

Term deposits: the star of savings

On the savings side, recent losses in gold shifted attention toward term deposits. After a rapid rise in the first two months of the year, bullion gold posted nominal losses for three consecutive months starting in March. According to Hesap.com’s analysis, while gold’s annual real return still stands 22.7 percentage points above inflation, its upward momentum has clearly broken. During the same months, deposits consistently delivered nominal returns of around 3%. Despite expectations of interest rate cuts, monthly deposit returns did not decline throughout 2026, rising from 2.99% in January to 3.11% in May.

Göçen: “The quality of financial decisions will be determined by accurate comparison”

Özgür Göçen, Deputy General Manager of Hesap.com, commented on the six-month financial data: “The first half of 2026 was a period in which financial decision-making habits were redefined. Shifting interest rate dynamics amid global uncertainty, along with diversification across investment instruments, are pushing consumers toward more planned, data-driven behavior. Going forward, financial advantage will come not merely from having access to the most options, but from being able to analyze those options correctly and choose the most suitable product. This is precisely where the quality of financial decisions will be determined by accurate comparison — and Hesap.com will continue to be one of the most important decision-support points, helping users compare and choose the financial products best suited to their needs.”

BtcTurk Hisse Extends “Instant Access” Feature to US Stock Exchanges

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BtcTurk Hisse Extends “Instant Access” Feature to US Stock Exchanges

BtcTurk Hisse has extended its “Instant Access” feature — previously available for Borsa Istanbul — to US stock exchanges as well. According to the company’s announcement, BtcTurk Hisse users can now access the proceeds of their stock sales the moment they sell shares traded on NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Under the traditional brokerage model, investors could only access proceeds from foreign stock sales after the settlement process was completed.

Thanks to the feature now extended to US markets, sale proceeds are transferred to the investment account the instant a transaction takes place, allowing users to reinvest the funds elsewhere or withdraw them as cash immediately. The feature is offered on US exchanges at no additional cost.

BtcTurk Hisse users can trade on both Borsa Istanbul and NASDAQ/NYSE through a single app and a single account.

Thanks to the platform’s fractional share feature, investors can invest any desired amount — regardless of share price — across more than 2,000 US stocks.

The platform also offers instant access to ETFs and TEFAS funds, participation in IPOs, stock-backed lending, 24/7 Turkish lira deposits and withdrawals, and live customer support.

Commenting on the announcement, BtcTurk Hisse CEO Fatih Otluoğlu said the company continues to lead the transformation of individual investment processes. Noting the company’s commitment to using the opportunities of digitalization to solve the problems traditional investing poses for investors, Otluoğlu stated: “Having introduced the Instant Access feature for Borsa Istanbul for the first time in Turkey, we are now achieving another first by extending it to cover US investment instruments as well.

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