Anatolian cities stand out in foreign currency savings: Which province has the most foreign currency?

In the first quarter of 2026, investors in Turkey are showing interest in alternative investment vehicles instead of foreign currency. According to current reports published by the Central Bank and the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), the growth in foreign currency deposits has slowed; citizens have turned more toward Turkish Lira deposits, gold, and housing. The results of a survey conducted in April showed that 48.8% of the public chose gold as the safest investment, 33.4% preferred real estate, and time-deposit TL accounts (4.4%) moved ahead of foreign currency (2.4%).

THE SHARE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY HAS DECREASED, TL DEPOSITS HAVE YIELDED RETURNS

According to CBRT data, while the dollar exchange rate increased by 3.45% to reach 44.42 TL in the first three months of the year, the euro rose by 1.75%. During the same period, the rise of TL deposit interest rates to 11% significantly reduced the appeal of foreign currency and provided real gains for TL deposit holders. The latest figures announced by the BDDK revealed that total deposits reached 24.3 trillion TL; 43% of this consists of foreign currency accounts, while the remainder is composed of Turkish Lira and other currencies.

FOREIGN CURRENCY AMOUNT IS HIGH IN METROPOLITAN CITIES, BUT THE RATIO IS LOW

In terms of volume, megacities continue to lead in foreign currency deposits. In Istanbul, 40.98% of total deposits, amounting to 5.03 trillion TL, are in foreign currency; in Ankara, this ratio is at the 33.41% level with 1.28 trillion TL. In Izmir, total foreign currency deposits were recorded at 535 billion TL, with a ratio of 38.29%.

ANATOLIA'S PROXIMITY TO FOREIGN CURRENCY DRAWS ATTENTION

When looking at the data published by the Central Bank and the BDDK on a provincial basis, it is seen that the preference for foreign currency stands out intensely in some Anatolian cities. The city with the highest foreign currency ratio within its total deposits is Aksaray (60.07%), followed immediately by Nevşehir (60.06%). They are followed by Karaman (57.07%), Yozgat (55.47%), and Bingöl (55.37%). In these cities, the dominant role of foreign currency within financial assets continues.

PROVINCES THAT TRUST FOREIGN CURRENCY THE LEAST

At the other end of the list, Ardahan stands out. Here, only 29.71% of total deposits are held in foreign currency. Ankara (33.41%) and Kars (34.43%) are among the other provinces with the least orientation toward foreign currency. Especially in metropolises like the capital Ankara and Istanbul, where economic and financial activity is intense, it is observed that Turkish Lira deposits are distributed quite widely among the base.

The latest data shows that investors are pushing foreign currency to the background and turning toward a search for more stable returns; meanwhile, in Anatolia, foreign currency savings continue to be a significant preference. The high interest rates offered by TL deposits and the stabilization of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates have initiated a new era in Turkey's investment map.