Jet Bank and Backbase Partner to Launch Albania’s First Digital-Only Bank

Backbase, the leading AI-powered banking platform, announces its collaboration with Jet Bank to power the launch of Albania’s newest digital-only bank. The partnership positions Jet Bank to deliver a fully digital, customer-first banking experience built on a unified engagement platform designed for speed, scalability, and continuous innovation.

As a greenfield digital bank, Jet Bank faced a critical challenge: launching fast without compromising stability, security, or the ability to evolve. Traditional banking infrastructure wasn’t an option. The bank needed a foundation that could support rapid market entry while enabling ongoing product innovation and regulatory discipline.

Jet Bank chose Backbase’s AI-powered Banking Platform to serve as its digital engagement layer, orchestrating customer interactions across mobile and web channels while integrating with core banking, card processing, and third-party services.

The collaboration enabled Jet Bank to move from setup to User Acceptance Testing in approximately three months, with full operational capability as a licensed digital bank within as little as six months. From launch, the platform supports monthly product releases, allowing the bank to introduce new features and services based on real customer usage without disrupting existing journeys.

“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,” said Fatbardha Rino, CEO at Jet Bank. “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 platform delivers end-to-end digital banking capabilities, from customer onboarding and lending to investing and intelligent assistance, all orchestrated through a single unified experience. Backbase delivered the solution in a managed hosting environment, working hands-on with Jet Bank throughout the project to ensure rapid delivery and production readiness.

A key factor in Jet Bank’s decision was Backbase’s marketplace-driven approach, which allows the bank to easily introduce new products and third-party services within a consistent digital experience. This capability is critical for a digital bank planning to expand its offering over time through both core banking services and innovative propositions via partnerships.

“Jet Bank represents the future of digital banking – fast to market, built for continuous innovation, and designed around customer needs from day one,” said Robert Mihaljek, Regional Vice President at Backbase. “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. We’re proud to support their vision and help them bring world-class digital banking to Albania.”

Beyond launch, the partnership will focus on ongoing optimization and expansion. Jet Bank will refine customer journeys based on real usage, roll out additional features in iterative releases, and strengthen digital servicing capabilities. The platform’s composable architecture enables the bank to introduce new capabilities, including personalization and AI-driven services, without disrupting core systems.

In the medium term, Jet Bank aims to establish itself as a trusted daily banking partner in Albania by expanding its digital product portfolio based on customer needs and behaviors. Long term, the bank’s goal is to grow into a scalable regional digital banking platform capable of launching innovative, market-first products and expanding beyond Albania while maintaining agility and regulatory discipline.

This collaboration also highlights the strength of the partnership model between Jet Bank, Backbase, and implementation partners. The initial phases were carried out by Backbase to meet strict timeframes, while simultaneously onboarding Facilization – Jet Bank’s partner for core banking implementation – to support subsequent phases. This coordinated delivery model reduced execution risk and enabled smooth, efficient rollout.