On September 17, 2025, Fintech Moldova, represented by the Founder and Coordinator Stefan Nistor, in collaboration with FintechOS, hosted an invite-only event that brought together top leaders from Moldova’s banking and insurance sectors for an in-depth discussion on digital transformation and the role of artificial intelligence in financial services.
The event was attended by the top management of Fincombank, Eximbank, maib, Moldindconbank, Donaris, and OTP Bank Moldova, ensuring a truly representative gathering of decision-makers from across the financial ecosystem. Their presence highlighted the sector’s strong interest in transformation and innovation, as well as the need for continued collaboration between incumbents and technology partners.
The event featured two dynamic panels that offered complementary perspectives on the modernization of financial institutions and the future of product innovation in the AI era.
Panel 1: Modernisation vs Transformation – Balancing Strategy with Technology
Speakers:
- Alexander Picker, CEO, Moldindconbank
- Aliona Stratan, First VP, maib
- Gabriel Pralea, Transformation Director, CEC Bank
- Sorin Mirea, Commercial VP, FintechOS
The discussion highlighted the distinction between modernisation and transformation. While modernisation focuses on driving efficiencies and adopting best practices, transformation requires the creation of new capabilities and a cultural shift across the organization.
Key takeaways:
- Stability and trust are vital for bringing both internal and external customers along the transformation journey.
- Technology must act as an enabler for a strategy that is jointly defined by business and IT.
- Business cases and ROI should be tracked using clear metrics, including lifetime value, engagement, and speed to market. Importantly, ROI is not just about what is gained, but also what is lost by failing to innovate.
- A closer and more collaborative relationship between banks and regulators is needed to navigate the complexities of change.
- Ultimately, culture remains the greatest barrier to transformation.
Panel 2: Product Innovation in the AI Era
Speakers:
- Irina Pohila, Head of Digital Products, OTP Bank Moldova
- Lidia Cîrstei, Senior VP of Product & Operations, FintechOS
This forward-looking session explored how AI is reshaping product design and delivery in the financial sector.
Key takeaways:
- AI will enable deeper personalisation of financial products for customers.
- Responsible use of AI is critical to build trust and ensure broad adoption.
- Financial institutions should prioritize use cases that deliver tangible efficiency and productivity gains.
- Rather than replacing the Core, AI can serve as a new data layer for transformation and product innovation.
- AI levels the playing field, allowing smaller institutions to compete with larger ones.
- It also creates opportunities to finally reach historically underserved customer segments.
Healthy Debate and Shared Vision
The event sparked healthy debate among speakers and participants, underscoring both the opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead. Audience engagement was strong, reflecting the sector’s growing interest in practical strategies for digital transformation and responsible adoption of AI.
Fintech Moldova is proud to have partnered with FintechOS to bring this discussion to the Moldovan market. This event reinforced the importance of collaboration across institutions, regulators, and technology providers in shaping the future of finance in Moldova and beyond.
