Salt Bank Launches in Romania with Digital Banking Platform

Salt Bank, a new digital bank in Romania, has launched less than a year after its inception. This is the first neobank to use Engine by Starling’s core banking system outside of its parent company, Starling Bank. The project was implemented in partnership with GFT, Salt Bank, and Engine by Starling.

GFT, a company specialising in next-generation banking technologies, was engaged to provide overall design and integration services. GFT developed onboarding capabilities and the technology model for Salt Bank, allowing it to manage an ecosystem of service providers as it grows. Carlton Hopper, Executive Sponsor and UK Managing Director at GFT, stated, “The launch of Salt Bank showcases our global leadership in digital banking on modern platforms. We delivered an integrated, tailored, robust, and secure banking platform for Salt.”

One of Salt Bank’s significant achievements is its fully automated customer onboarding process, which takes just a few minutes. The bank on boarded over 100,000 customers within the first two weeks and exceeded 200,000 within a month. Salt Bank aims to reach 1 million customers within its first three years. The bank offers advanced features, such as multi-currency accounts and cards, tailored to local customer needs.

The implementation was an international effort, with contributions from GFT teams in the UK and Poland. GFT also provided banking industry knowledge, helping Salt Bank establish its program, execute the transformation, and prepare the new team for future success. Sam Everington, CEO of Engine by Starling, commented, “Our platform was effectively integrated by GFT for the Romanian market, delivering feature-rich and highly personalizable banking products.”

Salt Bank’s launch is expected to influence the future of digital banking in Europe and beyond. With its modern approach and customer-focused services, the bank showcases how effective partnerships and a focus on customer experience can enhance banking technology. Gabriela Nistor, CEO of Salt Bank, added, “Our collaboration with GFT has set a new benchmark for digital banking.”

Salt Bank’s rapid growth and innovative platform highlight the transformative potential of digital banking solutions in the financial sector.