maib at 35: Interview with the chairman of the supervisory board Vytautas Plunksnis
Maib, Moldova's largest bank, marks 35 years of activity in 2026. Founded in the same year as the Moldovan state, the bank has evolved into a key pillar of the country's financial system and a driver of its economic transformation. As Moldova accelerates its EU accession path and navigates an increasingly complex global environment, maib enters a new stage of growth, focused on innovation, capital market development, and customer centricity.
We sat down with Vytautas Plunksnis, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, to discuss the bank's strategic priorities and its role in shaping Moldova's economic future.
Maib celebrates this year its 35th anniversary. In a country with a rapidly accelerating EU accession process, what role does maib see for itself in supporting Moldova's economic development in the years ahead?
Vytautas Plunksnis: This is a historic moment for Moldova. We're not just marking 35 years – we're marking the same number of years as the Moldovan state itself. That's significant. We've grown together.
The EU accession path opens doors, but it also demands transformation for everyone involved. Businesses need to compete differently. The financial system needs to be stronger, more transparent, more modern – even families need new skills.
Maib's role is clear: we're the bridge. We help Moldovan companies meet European standards. We finance the investments they need to grow. We help people understand new opportunities. We make sure nobody is left behind in this transition.
For the next 3-5 years, our focus is simple: help Moldova's real economy prepare for Europe. That means more business financing, better access to capital markets, and tools that make it easier to do business in Moldova.
In an increasingly competitive banking landscape, what would you say are maib's key competitive advantages?
Vytautas Plunksnis: We have three real advantages, and none of them are theoretical.
First: we understand Moldova. We've been here 35 years. We know how Moldovan businesses think, how families save, what keeps people up at night. Foreign banks can enter, but understanding takes time and commitment. We don't need to learn – we already know.
Second: we're agile. We make decisions fast. Our teams are organized around customers and problems, not around bureaucracy. When a business owner comes to us with an idea, we can move in weeks, not months. This matters in a competitive market.
Third: our people genuinely care. We're not just processing transactions. We're invested in our customers' success. This shows up in every interaction – from opening an account to handling a crisis. People feel it, and they stay with us.
And yes, we have good technology. But technology without purpose is just expensive. Our advantage is that we use technology to solve real problems, not to look modern.
Business financing in Moldova has been intensifying. How does maib see its role in supporting the real economy?
Vytautas Plunksnis: Business financing is the heartbeat of economic growth. You cannot have a strong economy without strong businesses, and you cannot have strong businesses without access to capital.
Maib has financed thousands of Moldovan businesses – small shops that became chains, farms that upgraded equipment, factories that hired more people. We've learned what works and what doesn't.
Going forward, we're doing three things:
One: we're making financing faster and more transparent. A business should know in days, not weeks, whether they qualify. Our new digital tools will cut approval time significantly.
Two: we're financing not just the loan, but the growth. We're offering business training, help with planning, connections to suppliers and partners. A loan alone isn't enough – businesses need support.
Three: we're financing the transition to Europe. Companies that want to export, that need to meet EU standards, that want to invest in technology – these are our priority. This is how Moldova grows stronger.
The result: maib will remain the bank that finances real Moldova. Not just theory, not just big corporations, but the actual businesses and entrepreneurs that create jobs.
Digital adoption in Moldova has grown significantly. What are the next major milestones for maib in terms of digital transformation and customer experience?
Vytautas Plunksnis: Digital transformation at maib isn't about technology for its own sake. It's about removing friction. Making life easier.
Our mobile app is already used by hundreds of thousands of people because it works. You open it, you understand immediately what to do. That's the standard we set.
The next milestones are clear:
First: by the end of this year, business owners will be able to apply for a loan completely online, from start to finish. No paperwork, no visits to the bank. Everything digital.
Second: we're building an integrated financial life. Your savings, your investments, your insurance – all in one place, one app. You should never have to juggle multiple applications.
Third: we're connecting to the Moldova International Exchange directly through the app. Soon, you'll be able to invest in Moldovan companies and international stocks without leaving the app. This is coming within the next 12-18 months.
Fourth: we're automating the boring work so our people can do the important work – actually helping you, not filling out forms.
The goal is simple: by 2028, maib should be the easiest bank to use in Moldova. Not because of fancy features, but because we removed everything that's annoying and kept only what matters.
Many banks talk about AI, but few turn it into a real competitive advantage. Where does maib stand today on this journey, and what differentiates you in the next 2-3 years?
Vytautas Plunksnis: You're right – many banks talk about AI and deliver nothing. AI is a tool, not magic.
Where we stand today: we're using AI in three ways that actually matter to customers.
One: fraud detection. AI learns what normal spending looks like, and immediately flags anything unusual. Your money is safer, and you're not bothered by false alerts.
Two: customer service. When you have a question, AI understands you quickly and routes you to the right person if needed. No waiting, no explaining twice.
Three: lending decisions. AI helps us make faster, fairer lending decisions by looking at patterns and risk, not just credit history. This helps young people and small businesses get access to credit they deserve.
In the next 2-3 years, here's what differentiates us:
We're going deeper with AI in advisory. When you open your app, we'll show you personalized recommendations – "based on your spending, you could save 15% by moving this service," or "your business is growing, maybe it's time to invest in inventory." This is like having a smart financial advisor in your pocket, and it will be available to everyone, not just the wealthy.
Second: we're training our AI specifically on Moldovan data and Moldovan language. AI trained on Western European patterns doesn't understand Moldova. Ours will. The difference: other banks will have AI. We'll have AI that actually helps Moldova.
Maib has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, including the adoption of agile at scale. How would you describe today's maib culture, and how does it translate into better outcomes for customers and the business?
Vytautas Plunksnis: At 35 years, maib's culture has become one of our strongest competitive advantages. And it's built on one simple idea: we're a business of people, for people. Everything we build – products, experiences, technologies – starts with people and is delivered to people.
This isn't a slogan. It's how we actually operate.
We have three fundamental pillars: delivering simple and intelligent financial solutions, continuously developing our people, and actively contributing to the economy. But what makes these real is our values – customer centricity, results orientation, team spirit, innovation, agility, transparency, and empowerment. In banking, culture often means compliance. For us, culture means these values are the actual criteria for how we make decisions.
How does this show up operationally?
Our teams are organized around customers and products, not functions. Agile is not a label – it's how we work. Autonomy is real because accountability is clear. Decisions are made closer to the customer, not stuck in approvals. Experimentation is part of the process, not an exception.
This gives us an edge. In a volatile world, we learn fast and adapt fast.
At the same time, we genuinely invest in people. Professional development, exposure to international practices, strong leadership – these are central. If you're good, you have a career at maib. We're building talent, not renting it.
How does this translate to customers? Faster decisions, better service, real innovation, and people who care about your success, not just processing your paperwork.
The broader point: maib sees itself as more than a bank. We're a catalyst for entrepreneurship, investment, and modernization in Moldova. Internal culture and external impact are directly connected. We can't help Moldova grow if our own culture is stuck in compliance. And we can't have a strong culture if we're not contributing to the economy.
A business owner coming to maib encounters a team invested in making their deal work. That's the difference.
Moldova's EU integration will likely bring regulatory alignment and increased competition from international players. How prepared is maib for this shift?
Vytautas Plunksnis: We're prepared because we're already running ahead of this curve.
EU integration will bring three things: tighter regulation, competition from bigger European banks, and higher standards for everything we do.
On regulation: maib is already compliant with most EU banking standards. We haven't been waiting. We've been building our compliance, our governance, our risk management as if EU rules were already in place. When they come, we won't scramble. We'll already be ahead.
On competition: yes, bigger European banks will enter. But here's the reality – they have different economics. They're not going to focus on small business financing or branch banking in small towns. There's a space where a local, agile, customer-focused bank will win. That's our space.
On standards: European customers expect different service levels than we've provided historically. Better digital tools, faster decisions, transparency. We're already building this. When European customers arrive, they'll find a bank that meets their expectations.
Our advantage isn't size or brand power – it's agility and understanding. European banks are big and slow. We're smaller and fast. In a changing environment, speed wins.
The shift will be disruptive, but maib is prepared. We'll be stronger, not weaker.
Maib is a co-founder of the Moldova International Exchange. What was the rationale behind this decision, and what does maib expect from the development of a securities market in Moldova? Some might argue that an active capital market could draw resources away from the banking system's traditional function of attracting deposits and issuing credit – how do you see these two models coexisting?
Vytautas Plunksnis: This is the most important strategic decision we've made in years.
The rationale is simple: Moldova's economy cannot grow on bank credit alone. A bank can only lend what it collects in deposits. But an economy that wants to grow needs multiple sources of capital. Businesses need equity, not just debt. People need investment opportunities. The state needs capital market financing.
A securities market doesn't compete with banking. It complements it. Here's why:
When a successful business grows beyond what a bank can lend, it needs a capital market to raise more. This doesn't hurt the bank – the bank was the platform that grew that business in the first place. The bank benefits.
When people have investment options, they're more engaged with their money. A farmer who can invest in a food processing company becomes a stakeholder in growth. He's more willing to keep his money in the system.
When the government can issue bonds and the private sector can raise capital directly, the whole economy becomes more sophisticated and more stable.
Will some deposits move to securities? Yes, some. But the total financial system grows larger. We'll be financing bigger companies, longer-term projects, more ambitious entrepreneurs.
Maib's role in co-founding the Exchange was to say: we believe in Moldova's potential. We're not afraid of a capital market. We're going to help build it because it will make Moldova stronger, and that's good for maib, for our customers, and for our country.
Will maib's individual clients be able to invest in shares of international companies directly through the maibank mobile application? If so, what is the realistic timeframe for this feature?
Vytautas Plunksnis: Yes. This is coming, and it's coming soon.
The first phase – trading stocks on the Moldova International Exchange – will be live by September 2026. Moldovans will be able to buy shares of Moldovan companies directly from the app.
The second phase – access to international stocks – is realistic for Q2 2027. We're working on the regulatory approvals and technical integration now.
Why is this important? Right now, if you're a Moldovan and you want to invest in a company listed in New York or Frankfurt, you need a foreign broker, foreign accounts, foreign currencies. It's complicated and expensive.
We're bringing it home. You'll open your maibank app, see international companies you recognize, and invest in one click. Your money stays in Moldova (in maib), but your investment is global.
This is transformational. Young people will build wealth differently. Families will have real investment options. The psychology of saving changes when you can invest, not just keep money in the bank.
We're aiming for 2027 for full international access. Could be earlier if regulatory approvals move fast. But it's coming.
Sustainability is becoming a core pillar in banking. How is maib integrating ESG principles into its strategy and decision-making?
Vytautas Plunksnis: ESG is not a marketing slogan at maib. It's how we make decisions.
On Environmental: we're financing the transition to clean energy. Farms going solar, businesses upgrading to efficient equipment, the state's renewable projects. We're also financing recycling and green technology. This isn't charity – it's good business. Green companies grow faster.
On Social: we care about financial inclusion. Half our branches are in small towns. We're financing small businesses that create local jobs. We're offering financial literacy programs. We're supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups. A stronger society is a stronger customer base.
On Governance: we maintain the highest standards of transparency and ethical conduct. Our supervisory board (full disclosure: I chair it) is independent and rigorous. We follow rules not because we have to, but because it's right.
How does this show up in decisions?
When a business applies for financing, we ask: is this sustainable long-term? Are they treating employees well? Are they respecting the environment? These aren't nice-to-haves. They're part of how we assess risk.
When we invest our own capital, we ask the same questions. We've divested from sectors that don't align with our values.
The result: maib's portfolio is more resilient. We're not financing short-term schemes. We're financing real, sustainable businesses. In a changing environment, that's safer and smarter.
Looking ahead, what would success look like for maib over the next 3-5 years?
Vytautas Plunksnis: Success has five measurable parts:
One: market leadership. We should have at least 25% of business financing in Moldova. Not through aggression, but through being the best choice.
Two: digital excellence. 60% of our customer interactions should be digital and self-service. Our branches should be for complex problems and relationships, not for routine transactions.
Three: capital market development. The Moldova International Exchange should have at least 20-30 listed companies and active trading. Maib should be recognized as the architect of this, not just a user.
Four: EU readiness. When EU rules are implemented, we're already compliant and competitive. We're not playing catch-up.
Five: people and culture. We should be the most sought-after employer in Moldovan banking. Best talent, lowest turnover, highest engagement. Culture is how we win.
If we achieve these five things, maib is not just the largest bank – we're the best bank. The one that grows Moldova.
Finally, at this milestone, what message would you like to share with maib's clients about the future you are building together?
Vytautas Plunksnis: We're building a future where Moldova is stronger, and you're part of it.
35 years ago, the bank was born because Moldova needed a trusted financial institution. Today, Moldova needs something more: a partner in growth.
Whether you're a business owner, a farmer, a young person saving for the future, or a family planning for your children – maib is here to help you move forward. Not just by managing your money, but by giving you tools, knowledge, and opportunities to grow.
The next 35 years won't be easy. Europe is moving fast. The world is uncertain. Moldovan businesses will face new competition. But we've learned something in 35 years: Moldovan people are resilient, ambitious, and smart. We survive. We adapt. We build.
Maib will be with you. We'll finance your ambitions, digitize your banking, help you invest in your future, and never forget that we exist to serve Moldova – not the other way around.
The best is ahead. Let's build it together.
