Wahda Bank partners with Backbase to launch digital banking in Libya

By Divya Shah

Why it matters: The project highlights how banks can modernise customer services through integrated digital platforms, local payment connections and Arabic-first banking experiences.

Wahda Bank has selected Backbase to develop a new digital banking platform for its business and retail customers, marking a step towards expanding digital financial services in the country.  

The rollout will begin with business banking in 2027, introducing digital account onboarding, daily banking and invoice management. Retail banking will follow on the same platform, adding card services and money management capabilities for more than half a million customers.  

The platform will offer Arabic-first digital banking with full English support. Businesses will be able to open accounts online through electronic identity verification, manage payroll and pay bills through a single application, alongside invoice management services.  

Jouk Pleiter, founder and CEO of Backbase, said, “Wahda Bank is bringing business and retail banking together on one AI-native platform from the start. Every service that follows, from corporate banking to conversational AI, will land on that same base, which puts Wahda in a position to set the pace for the whole market.” 

Backbase’s Banking OS will integrate with Wahda Bank’s Oracle FLEXCUBE core banking system and Libya’s LYPay and OnePay instant payment rails. The platform will also connect branch and contact centre employees through a shared servicing workspace, giving staff access to customer information and interaction history. 

The partnership also includes collaboration between the companies’ engineering teams. Wahda Bank’s engineers will work alongside Backbase teams and receive training through Backbase Academy to develop the in-house capabilities needed to extend and maintain the platform.  

The Central Bank of Libya’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy identifies electronic payments, small and medium-sized businesses, and artificial intelligence among its priorities. 

The new platform is expected to reduce reliance on branch visits for routine banking services by enabling customers to access key services digitally. Its integration with local payment infrastructure will also support digital transactions through the bank’s channels. 

Rami Benissa, CEO of Wahda Bank, said, “Our partnership with Backbase is the next step on that path. Together, we will give our business and retail customers Arabic-first digital banking on a platform our own engineers will keep extending.” 

The partnership will establish a shared digital banking foundation for Wahda Bank’s business and retail services, with further capabilities planned as the platform develops.