Maib is pleased to announce that Global Finance has named it the Best SME Bank in Central and Eastern Europe and the Best SME Bank in Moldova in its Best SME Bank Awards 2027. This is the second time maib has won the regional title, following its first win in 2024. Global Finance SME Bank Awards recognize winners based on independent research and bank submissions, which are assessed on the understanding of SME client needs, the breadth and relevance of products and services, innovation and client experience, and evidence of execution and impact.

SME Business Unit performance

The SME Business Unit serves medium, small and micro enterprises, and is known internally as Business Banking. In 2025 it delivered revenue growth, higher profitability and stronger asset quality:

  • Net profit of MDL 653 million (+47.1% YoY)

  • Operating income of MDL 1,348 million (+22.4% YoY)

  • Loan portfolio of MDL 8.9 billion (+20.3% YoY), with a 36.0% share of the SME segment

  • New loans of MDL 6.9 billion (+22% YoY); maib disbursed 44% of all new business loans in Moldova

  • NPL ratio of 1.98%, down 1.45 percentage points YoY, despite strong lending growth

  • 44.3 thousand active customers (+8.9% YoY), including 7.5 thousand new customers (+14.9% YoY)

Growth was supported by automated, data-driven lending. Pre-approved credit limits of up to MDL 10 million are set online, and nearly 65% of loans to non-agro micro enterprises were issued through them. Risk-sharing and IFI-supported programmes represented 41% of the SME loan portfolio at year-end. The green loan portfolio reached MDL 565 million, driven by solar and wind projects, and the women-owned business loan portfolio grew 11.8% to MDL 1,526 million. More recently in 2026 maib's SME loan portfolio reached MDL 10 billion. 

Digital banking for entrepreneurs

The maib business platform is the unit's main digital channel and served over 40,000 clients, of whom nearly 29,000 were monthly active users (2025). Maib added SEPA payments, biometric signing, host-to-host ERP integration and real-time account opening integrated with the State Tax Service. It also launched an AI-based chat for SME clients. Independent research put the unit's Net Promoter Score at 61.5, and 92.3% of branch services were completed in under five minutes in 2025. A fully end-to-end digital lending solution is planned for launch in 2026.

Andrii Glevatskyi, maib Deputy Chairmanand Head of SME Business Unit, commented:

"We are honoured that Global Finance has again recognised maib as the region's best SME bank. This result reflects a consistent approach: widening access to finance, keeping portfolio quality strong, and giving entrepreneurs digital tools that save them time. In 2025 we grew our SME loan portfolio by more than a fifth while bringing the NPL ratio below 2%, and our business platform now serves more than 40,000 clients. I thank the entire Business Banking team and our customers for their trust."

 

About maib

Maib is the largest bank in Moldova, with a share of 36.0% of deposits and 37.5% of loans of the entire banking system as of end of H1 2026. Maib is a disciplined lender with an NPL ratio of 0.7% (IFRS) and is well-capitalised with a CAR of 22.1% as of H1 2026. 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. 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.