Investor Relations Release 24 July 2025

Maib provides access to Moldovan banking to citizens living abroad

Many Moldovan citizens currently live, work and study abroad, nevertheless maintaining strong ties to the homeland. They own property, pay bills, make transfers to their relatives and friends. From now on, they can easily access Moldovan banking services via maibank. 

As part of its most significant financial inclusion initiative to date maib introduced the possibility for over a million Moldovans living abroad to onboard into maibank using a phone number from either the EU or the UK. New users can open accounts, obtain digital cards, and perform selected banking operations remotely, without needing to visit a branch in person.

Meeting Diaspora Needs through Seamless Digital Access

The launch of this feature follows extensive research into the needs of Moldovan diaspora communities. According to a comprehensive study, nearly 820 thousand Moldovans currently reside in Europe and UK and only one in three uses banking services from Moldovan banks. Barriers include the inability to open accounts online and a lack of digital solutions for accessing services back home.

Nevertheless, 62% of surveyed diaspora members expressed interest in maib products, especially payment cards, tools for domestic payments and transfers, and access to utility services in Moldova. By enabling remote onboarding, maib addresses both the operational pain points and the unmet financial needs of this sizeable population segment.

Expanding on Existing Digital Infrastructure

This new functionality builds on maib’s existing fully digital onboarding framework, launched in October 2023, which allows Moldovan citizens within the country to open accounts entirely through the maibank mobile app. That initiative marked a significant milestone in the bank’s digitisation strategy and brought onboarding in line with the standards of listed banks across the region. The expansion to diaspora users further reinforces maib’s commitment to inclusive, borderless banking for Moldovans.

Aliona Stratan, First Deputy Chairwoman in charge of Retail division, commented:

“Our customers expect to manage their banking needs with ease, regardless of where they live. With the launch of online onboarding for Moldovans residing abroad, now available using an international phone number, maib is removing key barriers for diaspora clients, giving them secure, convenient access to services back home. This new feature reflects our broader strategy to invest in technology and innovation that addresses real-life challenges. We are proud to support Moldovan citizens in staying connected to their financial responsibilities and loved ones in Moldova through seamless digital banking.”

Promoting Financial Inclusion and Aligning with ESG Commitments

This initiative directly supports maib’s sustainability strategy, where financial inclusion is a central pillar. By offering remote onboarding and tailored access to essential services, maib helps ensure that Moldovans abroad, many of whom maintain close family and economic ties with their home country, are not excluded from the formal financial system (in Moldova). The functionality is particularly relevant for individuals who may find it difficult to travel back for in-person registration, thereby improving equitable access to financial services and reinforcing maib’s role in Moldova’s digital and inclusive financial development.

About maib

Maib is the largest bank in Moldova, with a share of 37.3% of deposits and 37.9% of loans of the entire banking system at the end of 1Q 2025. Maib is a disciplined lender with NPL ratio of 1.5% and is well capitalised with CAR of 19.9% as of 31 March 2025. The Bank is of systemic importance to the country,  it serves 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 commited to returning capital to shareholders with 45% of its 2024 profits paid out in dividends (totalling nearly EUR 32 million). Since 2018, maib's largest shareholder is a consortium, which 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

• Alexandru Sonic's appointment to maib Management Board approved by NBM
• Best bank for large corporates award for maib from Euromoney
• Maib supports the inauguration of a 50 MW photovoltaic park in Moldova

Upcoming investor events

• 19 August - 2Q and 1H 2025 Financial Results
• 30 September (TBC) - WOOD’s Romania Investor Days

Contact investor relations

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

Press Contact
Daniela Șerban
Phone: +40742242662
E-mail: Dserban@vertikgroup.eu

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