Jewelry displays gold at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2026.

Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has declared that about $640 billion in gold and foreign currency is held outside the financial system. For plenty of Turkish savers, physical gold is still a safe way to protect their money from inflation and economic uncertainty. This practice is known as "yastık altı altın," or "gold under the mattress," referring to the tradition of keeping wealth in physical assets rather than in banks. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

ISTANBUL — In Turkey, gold is far more than a decorative accessory. It is gifted throughout life's primary milestones and stashed safely at home—a time-honored practice designed to protect savings against frequent currency devaluations and a volatile national economy.

In a related development, yet, Turkish officials and economists warn that this culture of gold hoarding is actively undermining the nation's financial future.

At the bustling Mahmutpaşa Yokuşu market in the heart of Istanbul, store owners call out their wares while shoppers dart between stalls, snapping up everything from kitchen gadgets and blankets to elaborate wedding dresses.

Locals and visitors shop for traditional wedding items at the historic Mahmutpaşa Bazaar, next to the Grand Bazaar in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2026.

Furthermore, mahmutpaşa is one of Istanbul's largest shopping areas and is known for its wide range of wedding goods, from bridal dresses and tuxedos to rugs and household items. Plenty of people still come here to prepare for their weddings because of its affordable prices and wide selection. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

Among them is Nefise Asker, a 23-year-old bride-to-be searching for the perfect outfit for her upcoming wedding photoshoot—one of six outfits she plans to wear over a multi-day celebration this September. Like several Turkish brides, Asker is eager to receive the traditional staple of Turkish wedding gifts: gold.

"We'll share the gold as a couple to support our new life together," Asker says.

Additionally, historically, gifted gold used to serve as financial insurance for wives who did not work outside the home.

"If everything goes south, you still have your gold that is gifted to you during your wedding, and that will be your lifetime savings," explains Selva Demiralp, an economist at Istanbul's Koç University and a former economist for the Turkish Federal Reserve.

That mindset extends far beyond newlyweds. In Turkey, the practice of holding wealth as physical gold or foreign currency outside the formal banking system—known locally as yastık altı, or "under the pillow"—is sometimes dismissed as an outdated habit. Nonetheless, Demiralp emphasizes that this behavior is a logical defense against chronic instability.

It is worth noting that "Once you look at why people do this, it stops looking irrational actually, and it's a very rational response to a long history of high and unpredictable inflation, a few banking crises people still remember, and a general sense that the lira just doesn't hold its value the way gold does," Demiralp explains.

The Beyazıt Gate of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2026.

The Grand Bazaar is one of the world's oldest covered markets. Today, several Turkish people prefer it to banks for buying and selling gold because they can often get better exchange rates. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

In the broader context, in Istanbul's historic Grand Bazaar, Mehmet Yıldırımtürk sits in his cramped, stuffy shop counting gold coins on a glass countertop as a limited fan circulates the warm air. Yıldırımtürk, who has worked as a currency exchanger and gold seller for over 50 years, views gold as an essential line of defense.

"Gold is a vital tool for Turks," Yıldırımtürk says. "It helps protect them, especially from inflation."

Gold expert and market analyst Mehmet Ali Yıldırımtürk holds a display tray of historical and modern gold coins at his shop inside the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2026.

Notably, the collection includes traditional Ottoman-era coins, such as Reşat and Hamit gold in the middle, alongside modern Turkish Republic coins, including Ata and ribboned Çeyrek gold on the left. On the right is a 1-gram gold piece, which was introduced to the market in 2016 as a more affordable way for people to buy gold. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

Inflation remains a chronic crisis in Turkey, hovering around 31% annually—one of the highest rates in the world. As the Turkish lira continues to weaken, daily living costs have skyrocketed. Gold, by contrast, offers stability, with prices hovering near all-time highs. Stashing physical gold at home provides Turkish families with a reliable financial cushion.

As stated by to the Turkish finance ministry, Turkish households currently store roughly 5,000 tons of gold. At current prices, that hidden wealth amounts to approximately $600 billion, according to the head of the Turkish Central Bank.

Significantly, a man exchanges foreign currency at an exchange office in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 20, 2026. The Grand Bazaar is one of the world's oldest covered markets. Today, several Turks still prefer it over banks when buying or selling gold, where they can often find better exchange rates. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

Beyond hedging against price increases, keeping savings hidden reflects a systemic distrust in representative institutions. Demiralp's research at Koç University highlights how severe this disconnect has become.

"We asked people directly how much they trust the territory's key economic institutions on a 0 to 10 scale, and nearly four in 10 rated their trust in commercial banks close to zero," Demiralp notes.

Meanwhile, trust in the statistical agency was even lower, she expressed. Over half the respondents in her survey put it in the same near-zero range. So when people choose gold over a lira account, they are reacting to a broader credibility gap in institutions meant to manage and report on the economy.

Women use their phones to calculate exchange rates before buying gold at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 20, 2026. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

Demiralp declared that public mistrust of Turkish commercial banks is rooted in a combination of historical economic trauma, persistent inflation, and a broader credibility gap in institutions. Turkish households still carry memories of past banking crises, which creates a hesitation to leave their savings inside the formal banking sector.

On a related note, this, she noted, is further fueled by the stark reality of chronic inflation and negative real interest rates. When households see prices on daily goods rising at a higher rate than spokesperson inflation figures suggest, it erodes their faith in the authorities's numbers. Therefore, holding money in the bank feels like an automatic loss of purchasing power compared to physical gold.

As Demiralp points out, "If you think inflation is going to run nearly 50% and the deposit rate you are being offered doesn't come close to compensating for that, then gold looks like a safer bet in real terms. When we ask people directly what they plan to do with their savings going forward, gold is by a wide margin the single most popular answer."

A female jeweler takes gold bracelets from a display case at the Grand Bazaar to show them to customers in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 20, 2026. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

In a related development, yet economists warn that keeping such a vast sum idle creates severe headwinds for the broader economy.

"It's not being lent out to businesses," Demiralp says. "And a good chunk of the gold has to be imported every year, which adds to the current account deficit. So it's capital that's parked rather than working."

Jewelry displays gold at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 20, 2026.

Furthermore, finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has stated that about $640 billion in gold and foreign currency is held outside the financial system. For numerous Turkish savers, physical gold is still a safe way to protect their money from inflation and economic uncertainty. This practice is known as "yastık altı altın," or "gold under the mattress," referring to the tradition of keeping wealth in physical assets rather than in banks. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

Demiralp notes that if hoarded gold were deposited into the formal banking system it would allow economic authorities to keep track of exact liquidity volumes, observe account behaviors, and design effective, targeted macroeconomic policies based on real data rather than rough estimates. It would restore the central bank's ability to influence economic demand, making monetary policy tools effective again—a necessary step toward achieving price stability, attracting foreign investment, and reducing unemployment.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly urged citizens to bring their gold out from under their mattresses, launching various authorities incentives and banking programs aimed at converting physical gold into bank deposits.

Additionally, a customer pays with a massive amount of Turkish lira at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2026.

As the Turkish lira has lost value, the largest banknote remains 200 lira (about $4.15). Over the past five years, the lira has lost about 83% of its value against the U.S. dollar. As a result, people need to carry more cash to make everyday payments. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

"This brings no benefit to either my people themselves or to my state," Erdoğan declared in a 2023 Cabinet speech.

It is worth noting that despite these initiatives, the the government body's efforts have largely failed. Critics point to Erdoğan's unorthodox economic policies and heavy-handed control over financial institutions—including firing six bank heads over seven years—as key factors fueling public skepticism.

"The gold just isn't coming out from under their pillows," Yıldırımtürk says. "The administration just hasn't been able to provide that confidence yet."

A couple looks at gold jewelry inside the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 26, 2026.

In the broader context, turkish finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek has mentioned that about $640 billion in gold and foreign currency is held outside the financial system. For plenty of Turkish savers, physical gold is still a safe way to protect their money from inflation and economic uncertainty. This practice is known as "yastık altı altın," or "gold under the mattress," referring to the tradition of keeping wealth in physical assets rather than in banks. Emre Çaylak for NPR hide caption

And bride-to-be Nefise Asker agrees. She has no intention of depositing her wedding gold into a bank account.

"I'll probably not put it under my pillow like in the olden days," Asker says with a smile. "But for sure, I'll hide it in a box at home."

NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR.