Tirana Bank, a subsidiary of the BALFIN Group, has teamed up with Startup Albania to host a forward-looking forum focusing on Albania’s digital future.

The venue was the Pyramid in the center of Tirana – a symbol of change that perfectly matched the event’s ambitious goal: accelerating innovation in the banking sector, strengthening startups, and rethinking the country’s financial world.

At the forum, which was covered by Albanian Daily News, bank executives met with ten of Albania’s most promising fintech startups. They discussed digital user experiences, open banking models, and the bank’s technological roadmap in a dialogue rather than a lecture.

Olivier Baur, Deputy CEO of Tirana Bank, emphasized that the bank is not merely reacting to change, but helping to shape it: “We are not just adapting to the future of banking – we are helping to define it.” As reported by Albanian Daily News, Baur also announced that Tirana Bank is set to become a digital platform that is consistently geared toward the needs of its customers – with startups as equal partners.

Blerina Nasto, who is responsible for digital transformation at Tirana Bank, also spoke out clearly in favor of strategic cooperation in an interview with Fintech.global. “Digital transformation is no longer an option – it is a necessity,” she said. Innovation happens when you create space for cooperation and learn from each other.

A particularly practical aspect of the forum was the starter package for founders that was presented. As reported by Vox News Albania, Marsela Kajo, head of the bank’s SME department, presented a tailor-made offer: Startups will receive a fully functional account including online banking for the first six months – free of charge. “This enables young companies to familiarize themselves with our platform and take their time deciding whether they want to stay with us permanently,” Kajo said according to the report.

Technologically, Tirana Bank has long since brought its infrastructure up to international standards. As Albanian Daily News reported, the bank plans to further expand its cloud-based systems with partners such as IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, and Cisco. IT manager Andi Qirjazi emphasized during the event that the bank is focusing on PSD2 standards to make fintech collaborations even more secure and easier.

The bank also made waves in the area of cybersecurity: Eni Pali, Head of Information Security, told Albanian Daily News that issuing secure certificates was a particular challenge when introducing open banking – but that this had been successfully overcome in close cooperation with the Bank of Albania. Regular penetration tests and international security standards are now standard practice at Tirana Bank.

The event was rounded off with the announcement of a strategic partnership with Dutch software company Backbase. As reported by FinTech Futures and The Paypers, this collaboration will take the bank’s digital transformation to a new level. New web and mobile banking platforms are planned, as well as digital credit offerings – not only for private customers, but also for businesses in the future.

The forum marks a milestone for Tirana Bank – and for the Albanian financial system as a whole. With a clear strategy, international networking, and genuine openness to cooperation with the start-up scene, the bank is making it clear that it is not just about products. It is about trust, technology – and a new way of banking.