On July 30–31, 2026, the SME Banking Agency hosted an online meeting of the SME Banking Council 2026: Eastern Europe. The event focused on the advancement of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) banking services across Eastern European nations, specifically Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Industry experts explored key market trends—ranging from daily banking and lending to digitalization, sustainable development, and financial inclusion — and recognized winners across five award categories.
About the Event
Over the two-day session, participants explored a wide range of topics shaping the future of SME banking across the region:
- The evolution of daily banking from a support function into a strategic customer engagement hub.
- The advancement of payment infrastructure and transaction-based lending models.
- The regional shift from traditional service models toward AI-powered ecosystem banking.
Attendees shared practical insights on digital onboarding, dedicated business mobile apps, next-generation internet banking platforms, non-banking service integrations, as well as sustainability and financial inclusion for SMEs.
Categories and Winners
Following the deliberations and assessments, winners were announced across five key categories:
Business Banking
Digital Banking
Daily Banking & Payments
Business Financial
Sustainability and Inclusion
We are witnessing banks across Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine navigate their digital transformation journeys at varying speeds, yet moving in the same clear direction—toward ecosystem banking tailored to the real-world needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. This year’s award winners demonstrate that innovation in the region is no longer an exception, but the new standard.
About SME Banking Agency
SME Banking Agency — is the industry’s only global analytics, benchmarking and consulting boutique fully dedicated to business banking. The Agency helps financial institutions grow profits by expanding their SME market share and staying ahead of new market leaders.
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