Backbase powers launch of Albania’s first digital-only bank

By Milan Rojan

Backbase has partnered with Jet Bank to support the launch of Albania’s first digital-only bank, providing its AI-native Banking OS as the foundation for the new institution’s digital banking platform.

The partnership has enabled Jet Bank to build a fully digital banking experience designed to support customer onboarding, lending, investing and intelligent assistance through a unified platform. Backbase said its technology has integrated with the bank’s core banking systems, card processing infrastructure and third-party services to deliver a seamless customer experience.

Fatbardha Rino, CEO of Jet Bank, said: “Our ambition is to set a new standard for digital banking in Albania by building a bank that feels intuitive, reliable, and relevant in everyday use. This partnership with Backbase gives us the digital foundation to launch quickly while maintaining the trust and discipline expected from a licensed bank. We’re not just launching an app – we’re building a platform that can continuously evolve with our customers.”

The implementation has allowed Jet Bank to progress from initial setup to User Acceptance Testing in approximately three months, while full operational capability as a licensed digital bank has been achieved within six months. Backbase has also delivered the solution through a managed hosting environment and has worked closely with the bank to support deployment and production readiness.

Robert Mihaljek, Regional Vice President at Backbase, said: “Jet Bank represents the future of digital banking – fast to market, built for continuous innovation, and designed around customer needs from day one. Their strategic choice to partner with a single, unified platform rather than assembling disconnected channels demonstrates the discipline required to build a truly scalable digital bank.”

The platform has been designed to support continuous product development through monthly releases, enabling Jet Bank to introduce new products and third-party services while maintaining a consistent digital experience. The bank said the approach would support its long-term plans to expand its product portfolio and deliver AI-driven banking services.

The collaboration has marked a milestone in Albania’s digital banking landscape, with Jet Bank aiming to expand its digital offerings as customer demand evolves.