Jet Bank launches as Albania's first digital-only bank, built on Backbase’s AI-Native Banking OS

Tirana, 25 June 2026 - Jet Bank has officially launched the operations and mobile application of its fully digital bank - the first of its kind in Albania, and a benchmark for digital banking in the Western Balkans. Licensed and regulated by the Bank of Albania, it is the newest bank in the world to be built entirely on the Backbase AI-native Banking OS.

Jet Bank received its banking licence from the Bank of Albania in March 2026 - granted to it as a greenfield institution, not an acquired one - and entered the market just months later as a fully operational digital-only bank. Backbase helped the bank’s team eliminate the complexity of launching and running a modern bank without a single line of inherited code. A team of 70 professionals built the bank in 6 months - a process that normally takes years. 

Public demand from the traditionally "cash market" has been strong ahead of launch, with more than 75,000 people joining the waiting list. Registered users are now receiving invitations to activate their accounts on a rolling basis. Customers can open and manage accounts fully remotely through a mobile-first experience, with core banking services available in real time.

Jet Bank CEO Fatbardha Rino described the launch as an important step in the modernization of Albania's banking landscape.

"Jet Bank chose to launch in Albania because we believe in the country's potential, its people, entrepreneurs, and future. We are building a bank designed around simplicity, accessibility, and technology, with the goal of giving our customers back time and freedom in managing their finances. Our partnership with Backbase has enabled us to bring that bank to market in a matter of months and to keep improving it for our customers." - Fatbardha Rino, CEO of Jet Bank

"Launching a licensed bank with such a small team in a matter of months would have been unthinkable until recently. Jet Bank did it by building on one AI-native foundation instead of the patchwork of legacy systems that many banks are still untangling - so customers, employees and, in time, AI agents all operate from a unified frontline rather than a dozen disconnected channels. This is what building for the AI era from day one looks like." - Jouk Pleiter, CEO of Backbase

At launch, Jet Bank customers have access to a comprehensive suite of banking products and services directly through the mobile app. Customers can open and manage multi-currency current accounts, savings accounts and term deposits, create dedicated savings goals through JetPlans, access virtual and physical debit cards and perform foreign exchange transactions. Live chat and secure in-app messaging is available to communicate with the bank.

Loans and credit cards are expected to be introduced in the coming months, with more products and services to follow. The bank is designed to expand and provide conversational and agentic AI capabilities in the near future.

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About Jet Bank 

Jet Bank is Albania’s first 100% digital, digital-native bank, offering secure, simple, and transparent banking services through a fully mobile experience. Jet Bank is designed to deliver modern financial services that prioritize speed, clarity, and customer control, while meeting the highest standards of security, compliance, and governance.  Jet Bank is owned by Jet Holding B.V., Amsterdam, and operates with a clear long-term vision to contribute to the evolution of digital banking in Albania by aligning local needs with proven European banking standards.

Jet Bank: info@jet.bank