Investor relations release, 18 February 2026

 

Maib and European Fund for Southeast Europe agree EUR 20 million 10-year subordinated loan to finance SME lending 

 

Maib announces the signing of a EUR 20 million, 10-year subordinated loan agreement with the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE). The transaction reinforces maib’s capital position and deepens a strategic partnership spanning 20 years, which also includes a EUR 15 million subordinated loan extended in 2021, a first for the country, and multiple technical assistance programs in ESG integration, climate risk management and sustainable employment practices among other.

The new long-term funding enhances maib’s capacity to expand longer-tenor lending to MSMEs, enabling investments in productivity, innovation, energy efficiency, and sustainable development—supporting competitiveness and inclusive economic growth in Moldova.

 

“This investment marks the next chapter in our partnership with maib and strengthens our shared commitment to Moldova’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By reinforcing maib’s capitalization, we are expanding its capacities to provide stable, long-term financing to local businesses. When entrepreneurs can access reliable funding, they invest with confidence, create jobs, and build resilience. Together, through partnership and purpose, we are strengthening the foundations of Moldova’s economy.”— Oxana Binzaru, Regional Director, Finance in Motion, Co-Manager of EFSE

 

“Maib connects Moldova’s businesses to international best practices, innovative financial and lifestyle solutions, and long-term funding, supporting economic development. This agreement strengthens maib’s ability to provide sustainable financing to entrepreneurs and SMEs, helping them invest, create jobs, and drive the country’s modernization. It also reflects the trust of EFSE and Finance in Motion, with whom maib has a 20-year partnership, including previous subordinated loans. We are grateful for their continued support in fostering a more competitive and dynamic business environment.” – Macar Stoianov, maib CFO, CEO designate

Maib driving entrepreneur and SME growth

 

Maib plays an important role in supporting entrepreneur and SME development in Moldova, combining strong customer service capabilities with tailored solutions, innovative products, and reliable funding. The Bank continues to consolidate its position in the segment, with MSME loan market share reaching 35.6% as of Q3 2025, up from 22.5% in 2020—an increase of more than 13 percentage points. This progression reflects maib’s sustained focus on customized financing, disciplined execution, and ongoing digital innovation aimed at meeting the evolving needs of small businesses.

 

To better serve entrepreneurs, maib has invested significantly in technology and customer-centric capabilities, ensuring seamless access to banking services. A key initiative is maib business, a dedicated digital banking platform for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises launched in 2025. The platform has attracted over 11,800 clients, with more than 43% monthly active users, and is now used by nearly one-third of maib’s SME customer base. It enables payments and transfers, foreign exchange transactions, full account and card management, salary processing, and digital signatures—allowing business owners to manage operations efficiently and remotely.

 

Lending growth has also been supported by the expansion of pre-approved credit limits, tailored to client needs. Leveraging data and automation, maib calculates credit limits of up to MDL 5 million daily across business segments. More than 20,000 micro and SME clients already benefit from pre-determined credit limits, providing immediate and seamless access to financing aligned with their growth objectives.

 

Maib’s leadership in SME banking and digital capabilities has been internationally recognized, including being named “Best SME Bank in Central and Eastern Europe” by Global Finance and “Best Digital Bank in the CEE and CIS Region” by EMEA Finance in 2024.

 

An innovative financial instrument supporting capital strength and growth

 

The subordinated loan represents a high-quality, long-term funding instrument that qualifies as Tier 2 capital—a form of regulatory capital—further reinforcing maib’s solid capital base and enhancing its capacity to expand lending to entrepreneurs and SMEs. It supports funding diversification and strengthens the Bank’s long-term capital structure, enabling sustainable business growth and reinforcing maib’s ability to finance the most vibrant and dynamic segment of Moldova’s economy—entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses.

Key benefits include, but not limited to:

• Stronger balance sheet: Tier 2 capital enhancement improves solvency metrics under stress scenarios and supports MREL (minimum loss-absorption requirement) compliance, strengthening resolvability while safeguarding senior creditors and depositors.
• Optimized capital structure: Enhances gone-concern loss-absorbing capacity and improves the overall capital structure, increasing headroom above regulatory requirements while preserving shareholder control.
• Expanded lending capacity: Creates additional headroom for portfolio growth without equity dilution, supporting increased financing to entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses that drive economic dynamism and job creation.

The facility fully complies with the National Bank of Moldova’s capital requirements and further reinforces maib’s strong capital position, providing a substantial buffer to continue expanding financing to Moldova’s business sector.

 

About EFSE

The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) is an impact investment fund to drive economic development and prosperity in Southeast Europe and the Caucasus. Through its two sub-funds—the Regional Sub-Fund (RSF) and the Ukraine Sub-Fund (USF)—EFSE provides tailored financial solutions to foster entrepreneurship, strengthen financial inclusion, and support local economies. EFSE was initiated in 2005 by KfW Development Bank with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Commission. As the first public-private partnership of its kind, EFSE draws its capital from donor agencies, international financial institutions, and private institutional investors. Finance in Motion GmbH, Germany, serves as EFSE’s Portfolio Manager and Hauck & Aufhäuser Fund Services S.A., Luxembourg, acts as manager. 

For more information on the European Fund for Southeast Europe, please visit: www.efse.lu  

 

About Finance in Motion

Finance in Motion structures, manages, and advises almost €4 billion across 10 funds, all classified as SFDR Article 9. These private market funds drive impact for people and planet through regional financial intermediaries, direct investments, advisory and capacity building. Founded in Germany, with local expertise from Latin America to Eastern Europe, it has been investing in emerging markets for over 20 years. 

For more information, please visit: www.finance-in-motion-com    

 

About maib

Maib is the largest bank in Moldova, with a share of 35.5% of deposits and 37.7% of loans of the entire banking system as of the end of Q3 2025. Maib is a disciplined lender with an NPL ratio of 1.0% (IFRS) and is well-capitalised with a CAR of 20.7% as of 30 September 2025. The Bank is of systemic importance to the country, serving nearly half of the population and is one of the largest private employers in Moldova, with a workforce of over 2,500 people. The Bank is committed to returning capital to shareholders, having paid out 45% of its 2024 profits in dividends (totalling nearly EUR 32 million). Maib is well-known in Moldova and internationally for its customer-centric approach and leadership in innovation having received a number of recognitions, such as Best Bank in Moldova, Best SME Bank in the region and other. Since 2018, maib's largest shareholder has been a consortium that includes the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Invalda INVL, a leading asset management group in the Baltic States, and Horizon Capital, a private investment fund focused on emerging markets.

 

Recent investor relations releases

• Maib's fourth corporate bond programme receives regulatory approval: up to MDL 2 billion to be distributed
• Best Regional Product Launch Award from EMEA Finance for maib’s gama cards range
• Maib’s Alexandru Sonic appointed to the Board of the newly established Moldova International Exchange

 

Upcoming investor events

• 24 February - 4Q and FY 2025 Financial Results

Contact investor relations

Maib Investor Relations
Evgenii Risovich
Phone: +37368403477
E-mail: Evgenii.Risovich@maib.md

 

For further enquiries, please contact: IR@maib.md or by phone at +373 68 403 477 or visit our website ir.maib.md.