On December 3, 2025, the Supervisory Council of the Bank of Albania reviewed and granted preliminary approval for the licensing of a new bank in Albania — the first fully digital bank in the country’s banking system. This investment, both significant and necessary, is expected to usher in a new era in the country’s banking sector.
In an exclusive interview on Top Story, Fatbardha Rino, CEO of Jet Bank, explained how the project came to Albania, how the licensing process has progressed, who makes up the team of professionals with over 20 years of experience in the banking industry, and which international partners are supporting the development of Jet Bank’s secure technological architecture.
Rino presented Jet Bank as a different operating model — a native digital bank built from the ground up, designed to transform how individuals and businesses manage their finances. Unlike traditional banks, a digital bank is built on tested technological architecture, supported by international partners, and based on high security standards.
Oracle Flexcube, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, Mastercard, Jumio and others are among the global platforms and certified brands forming Jet Bank’s ecosystem. These partners are widely recognized and represent standard practices in financial markets across the European Union and the United Kingdom.
“These are all highly reputable international brands — proven, tested over time — that have built the technological backbone not only for Jet Bank but for banking systems worldwide. It is essential that a new digital bank be established on very solid foundations, supported by actors who have done this before and can provide ongoing technological support. The trust in a digital bank is fundamentally built on technology. There is a significant difference in how a digital bank enters the market compared to a traditional one. This model has existed in Europe for over a decade. A group of investors identifies markets where they want to develop a digital bank. Today, we have investors from across the globe and founding partners, and we remain open to discussions with new investors interested in similar opportunities,” said CEO Fatbardha Rino.
During the interview, Rino also detailed the licensing process for Jet Bank, praising the professionalism of Albanian regulatory institutions. She emphasized that banks are critical to a country’s economic stability, which requires a rigorous approval process.
“All banks in Albania — whether traditional or digital — undergo a very strict evaluation process. In our case, it has been even more detailed, particularly regarding the investors. Authorities assess whether they have sufficient capital, the source of their funds, their financial experience, and their reputation — including previous investments. The same level of scrutiny applies to the bank’s executive team,” she explained.
Asked whether the bank would be easy to use, Rino summarized Jet Bank’s philosophy in a simple principle:
“The more complex the technology behind the scenes, the simpler the experience should be for users. Our goal is not just to build an app or a platform, but a bank that is intuitive and accessible to people of all generations, enabling them to manage their money in the simplest way possible.”
Rino also highlighted the importance of the Albanian team behind Jet Bank, noting their two decades of experience in the banking sector. She stressed that even though Jet Bank is fully digital, its greatest strength lies in its people — the professionals who ensure its effectiveness, reliability, and vision.
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