PRESS RELEASE
Digital Banking in Albania

On 25 May 2016, the Albanian Association of Banks (AAB) organised, in cooperation with the Bank of Albania and the National Payment System Committee, a conference on "Digital Banking in Albania", at Tirana International Hotel. This conference aimed at promoting new technologies used by the banking sector to provide services and products to Albanian citizens. This sector pays special attention to technological innovation and spearheads the adoption and implementation of new technologies, to enhance the quality of customer services.

In the welcoming speech, Mr Christian Canacaris, AAB Chairman, highlighted the fact that technology and consumers have contributed to the banks' vision, and their renewed thinking on the way they operate. The digitalization in the banking industry is neither a choice nor an option: this is the banking business modus operandi today and in the future. Mr Canacaris added that the banking industry in Albania is set on the path of digital banking. So far, the figures are very optimistic: 12 out of 16 banks operating in Albania offer internet banking; 7 out of 16 banks offer mobile banking and 3 out of 16 banks offer e-commerce. During the past five years (2011 - 2015), the banking industry invested EUR 65 million in infrastructure and information technology services. In addition, EUR 16 million are planned to be invested this year.

This conference was organised in three sessions. The first session was moderated by Ms Elisabeta Gjoni, First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Albania and Chair of the National Payment System Committee. The panel participants were: Ms Milena Harito, Minister of Innovation and Public Administration, Mr Francisco Tur Hartmann Deputy Head of the Market Integration Division, European Central Bank (ECB), Ms Pascale-Marie Brien, Senior Policy Advisor, European Banking Federation (EBF), Mr Frédéric Blanc, member of the Albanian Association of Banks and Chief Executive Officer EO of the Societe Generale Bank in Albania and Mr Periklis Drougkas, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Bank Albania.

First Deputy Governor Gjoni underscored that in view of promoting the market toward innovative payment services, the Bank of Albania as a regulator and catalyst has recently taken several regulatory measures to remove barriers and increase competition. These measures are based on the European practices, both in the framework of Albania's adherence to the Common European Market, as well as one of the most optimal solutions in terms of security and efficiency at international level. Ms Gjoni stated that many challenges remain for the future and, in this context, close inter-institutional cooperation is very important. In this context, the First Deputy Governor referred to the National Payment System Committee activity, as an important step to create a vision for the development of payment systems in the Albanian market.

Ms Milena Harito, Minister of Innovation and Public Administration, in her speech, presented the latest developments regarding projects by the Government of Albania for the digitalization of government services. Minister Harito pointed out that innovative payment methods such as those via mobile phone, are considered a payments' method of the future; they help fight informality and facilitate the citizens' life. Concluding, Ms Harito underlined the importance of promoting new projects to ensure data integrity.

The second session discussed the latest developments regarding the digital transformation and its role in the banking industry. The panel was moderated by Ms Maria Teresa Chiementi, representative of the Payment Systems Development Group at the World Bank. Discussions focused on the latest developments in the perspective of innovation by the market's stakeholders. Special emphasis was given to the payments and banking services in real time, from both the perspective of service providers and the development of supporting infrastructure. Mr Wim Mijs, Chief Executive of the European Banking Federation (EBF), spoke on the regulatory framework in the European Union and its impact in Albania. His input added value to the session discussions. Representatives from Turkey ( Garanti Bank) and Poland brought the experience of their countries and the latest trend in the digital banking and the payment system model implemented by Poland.

The third session on " Digital Banking in Albania- Where we stand! What we should know!" was moderated by Mr Christian Canacaris, AAB Chairman. The presentations by Mr Enkelejd Zotaj from Raiffeisen Bank, Mr Fatih Karli from BKT, Mr Gideon Van Der Broek and Mr Paul Wide from International Commercial Bank focused on the products and services their banks provide to the Albanian consumers.

The last two presentations by Mr Romano Stasi, Managing Director of the Italian Association of Banks and Mr Raja Said representative of ProgressSoft Corporation, discussed issues related to the information security in the framework of new developments in technology and possible solutions regarding the payment sector, which may be applied in the future in the banking sector.

Journalists, representatives of international organizations and telecommunication companies, providers of innovative products and services in the banking sector, as well by interest groups on technology attended the conference.