To opt out of mandatory private pension (BES), you must contact your pension company and submit a cancellation request. Simply calling the pension company by phone is sufficient to initiate the cancellation.
Employees in public or private institutions with at least five staff and who are Turkish citizens under the age of 45 are automatically enrolled in mandatory BES and have contribution payments deducted from their salaries.
Employees who do not wish to remain in the program may exercise their right of withdrawal. After canceling automatic enrollment, the contributions paid up to that date can be returned at any time; returned amounts will have only income tax withholding applied. If a participant prefers to withdraw contributions without any deductions, they must leave the system within two months of being notified.
How Does the Process of Leaving Mandatory BES Work?
To cancel mandatory BES, the employee must apply in accordance with the exit provisions. It is possible to leave the system before fulfilling the retirement term. The right of withdrawal is valid within the first two months after notification of automatic enrollment.
The steps the employee should follow during this period are:
- After the contribution deduction is taken from the employee’s salary and forwarded to the pension company, a notification is sent by mail, SMS, fax, e-mail, or another communication method. This notification triggers the right of withdrawal.
- Within the two-month withdrawal period, the employee must contact the pension company that manages their BES. The withdrawal request can be submitted online by filling out a form or by sending a written petition.
- Once the withdrawal request reaches the pension company, the company must return the contributions made up to that date within 10 business days. Refunds are transferred to the bank account specified by the applicant. If the payment is delayed, the employee has the right to demand interest on the delayed amount.
How Do Those Who Miss the Withdrawal Period Cancel Their Enrollment?
If the two-month withdrawal period has passed, the steps to exit automatic BES are as follows:
- Notify the pension company by phone, e-mail, fax, or post that you wish to leave the system.
- After the company receives the cancellation request, it will send the exit information form, exit request form, and account statement to the employee. These documents are typically sent within about five business days after the request is received.
- The employee must complete and sign the returned forms and send them back to the pension company by fax or mail.
- Once the withdrawal request is processed, the contributions accumulated during the employee’s time in the system and any entitled state contribution will be transferred to their account. The transfer is typically completed within about 20 business days.
How to Cancel Mandatory BES with Garanti BBVA?
To cancel Garanti BBVA’s automatic enrollment, applicants can reclaim the total contributions paid up to the time they request exit.
Ways to request cancellation include:
- Using the Garanti BBVA mobile app: enter the Individual Pension System menu to view details and submit an exit request. Selecting the contract termination option starts the cancellation process.
- Calling Garanti BBVA Pension Call Center at 444 0 336, where staff can process all BES-related transactions including cancellations.
How to Cancel Avivasa Mandatory BES?
Avivasa automatic enrollment cancellations can be made through their call center at 444 11 11. After connecting to a representative, state that you want to cancel BES and answer the identity verification questions they ask.
Once you confirm the cancellation with the representative, the request is created and the contributions paid up to that date are transferred to the employee’s account as soon as possible.
How to Submit a Mandatory BES Cancellation Request at Yapı Kredi?
To cancel Yapı Kredi automatic enrollment, call 0850 222 0 448. After connecting with a representative, state that you wish to leave the BES and provide the information the representative requires to complete the process.
How to Cancel Automatic Enrollment at Ziraat Bank?
You can cancel Ziraat Bank’s BES through digital banking channels or by calling the call center. The methods are:
- Log in to Ziraat Bank internet banking or the mobile app, go to the BES menu, and follow the prompts to cancel the automatic enrollment.
- Call Ziraat Bank Pension Call Center at 0850 222 97 00, speak with a representative, state your wish to leave mandatory BES, and provide the requested information.
How to Leave Allianz Automatic Enrollment?
To cancel Allianz BES, obtain the Allianz BES Cancellation and Exit Form, complete it accurately, and submit it via digital channels or at an Allianz branch. You can also call the Allianz Insurance Call Center at 0850 399 99 99 to request cancellation.
How to Get BES Cancellation Service from Vakıf Emeklilik?
Vakıf Emeklilik processes cancellation requests in approximately 10 business days. Ways to submit a cancellation request include:
- By SMS: type VEML, a space, your national ID number, a space, CAYMA, a space, your birth date, and send the message to 4933.
- Call Vakıf Emeklilik Customer Service at 0850 222 9 237 and request BES cancellation from a representative.
- Send a WhatsApp message to 0549 802 47 75 to request information or initiate a cancellation.
How to Cancel Halkbank Automatic Enrollment?
Halkbank BES cancellation can be completed by phone in a few minutes. Call the call center at 0850 222 0 400, navigate the voice response system to the BES menu, and submit your request to leave mandatory BES.
How to Leave Anadolu Hayat Mandatory BES?
For Anadolu Hayat, call 0850 724 55 00 and inform the customer service representative that you want to cancel automatic enrollment. After identity verification, the representative will process your exit request.
How to Exit TEB Mandatory BES?
TEB BES cancellation is completed within 10 business days after the withdrawal request, and contributions are refunded. To submit a cancellation request, call 444 43 23 or 0850 200 0 666.
How Do Employees Cancel Akbank Mandatory BES?
Akbank processes automatic enrollment cancellation requests within a maximum of 14 business days. After processing, the employee’s contribution payments are automatically transferred to their account.
Ways to cancel with Akbank:
- Call customer service at 444 25 25 and request BES cancellation from a representative.
- Visit any Akbank branch with an identity document and request to leave the automatic enrollment system. The branch staff will have you complete a BES cancellation petition and submit the request.
- Submit an exit request via Akbank internet banking.
Is It Possible to Leave Mandatory BES at Any Time?
It is possible to leave automatic enrollment at any time. Although the initial withdrawal period is two months, under certain conditions employees may request to leave the mandatory BES at any time before they obtain retirement rights.
How to Learn Basic Contract Information for Mandatory BES?
Employees who want to review basic contract details for automatic enrollment and exit can obtain necessary information through the e-Government (e-Devlet) portal. In addition to contract details, information such as accrued state contribution and contribution limits is available. Steps to query BES on e-Devlet:
- Go to https://www.turkiye.gov.tr.
- Click the Sign In button and authenticate using an e-Devlet password, mobile signature, electronic signature, internet banking, or national ID card. Those using an e-Devlet password must first obtain it from a PTT branch.
- Open the e-services menu and select the Pension Monitoring Center (Emeklilik Gözetim Merkezi) among institutions.
- Under available services, select “Individual Pension and Automatic Enrollment System State Contribution Query” to view details of the state contribution for the mandatory BES you wish to exit.
Do People Who Leave Mandatory BES Still Benefit from State Contribution?
Those who leave mandatory BES before completing three years are not entitled to state contributions. The share of state contribution based on years in the system is as follows:
- Participants who remain in the system for at least three years receive 15% of the state contribution.
- Those who stay for at least six years are entitled to 35% of the state contribution.
- Participants who remain for at least ten years earn 60% of the state contribution.
- Those who retire from mandatory BES, die while in the system, or become disabled are entitled to 100% of the state contribution.
Are Refunds Reduced by Deductions When Leaving Mandatory BES?
The deduction applied after BES cancellation is income tax withholding. The withholding rates depending on the reason and duration in the system are as follows:
- Those who leave after acquiring retirement rights face a 5% deduction from their accumulated funds.
- Those who leave due to death, disability, or winding up also face a 5% deduction.
- Participants who leave after ten years without acquiring retirement rights are subject to a 10% deduction.
- Those who have been in the system for less than ten years and choose to leave face a 15% deduction on their accumulated funds.
Is There an Option to Pause Instead of Leaving Mandatory BES?
It is possible to pause contributions to BES. Employees may suspend contributions for up to three months. At the end of that period, or earlier, they can request an extension of the suspension. This option allows participants to temporarily stop contributions without formally leaving mandatory BES while they improve their financial situation.
Phone Numbers for Banks and Firms for BES Cancellation
The phone numbers of BES providers for cancellation are listed below for your convenience.
| Institution | Cancellation Phone Number |
| Allianz BES Cancellation | 0850 399 99 99 |
| AvivaSA BES Cancellation | 444 11 11 |
| Groupama BES Cancellation | 0 212 367 67 67 |
| NN Hayat BES Cancellation | 0850 210 66 94 |
| Akbank BES Cancellation | 444 25 25 |
| Odeabank BES Cancellation | 444 8 444 |
| ING Bank BES Cancellation | 444 1 666 |
| Ziraat Bank BES Cancellation | 0850 222 97 00 |
| Garanti Bank BES Cancellation | 444 0 336 |
| Yapı Kredi BES Cancellation | 0850 222 0 444 |
| Denizbank BES Cancellation | 0850 222 0 800 |
| TEB BES Cancellation | 0850 200 0 666 |
| Halkbank BES Cancellation | 0850 222 0 400 |
| Vakıfbank BES Cancellation | 444 92 37 |
| Türkiye Finans Participation Bank BES Cancellation | 0850 222 22 44 |
| QNB Finansbank BES Cancellation | 0850 222 0 900 |
| İş Bankası BES Cancellation | 0850 724 55 00 |
| HSBC BES Cancellation | 0850 211 0 111 |