Balkan Payment Forum 2026 — The Strategic Payments Hub of Southern Europe
About the event
Balkan Payment Forum is a high-level platform uniting the payments, fintech, and financial services ecosystem of the Balkans and Southern Europe with the global payments community.
The Forum brings together central banks, regulators and authorities, financial institutions, PSPs, innovators, investors, and technology providers from 20+ countries to address the region’s most important challenges and opportunities in digital payments.
The Balkans are entering a decisive phase: rapid digitalisation, EU-driven regulatory change, expanding cross-border commerce, and accelerating fintech innovation.
Balkan Payment Forum is the place to be — let’s shape the future of payments together!
200 +
delegates
25
speakers
15 +
regulators
20 +
countries
SPEAKERS OF THE FORUM
Matthias Timm
Associate Operations Officer at IFC - International Finance Corporation (Austria)
Jose M. Moreno de Barreda
Digital Finance & Fintech Sr. Advisor IFC - International Finance Corporation (Spain)
Linda Shomo
Co-Founder of Balkan Fintech Association, Founder & CEO EasyPay (Albania)
Fatbardha Rino
Chief Executive Officer, Jet Bank (Albania)
Merima Mahmutovic
Senior Manager I PwC Strategy, Transformation & Technology I SEE (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Piotr Jan Pietrzak
New Markets Lead, European Payment Initiative (EPI)
Yuliya Starokozheva
Deputy CEO Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine
Daniela Malaj
CEO Happy SHPK (Albania)
AGENDA
Registration & Welcome Coffee
Opening of the Forum. Welcome word by Organizer, Government, Authorities, Guests and Partners
Opening Panel Discussion:
Regulatory Outlook for the Balkan Region «Regulatory Priorities for Payments, Innovation and Financial Integrity»
Guiding Questions:
- What regulatory changes will shape payments in 2026–2027?
- PSD3, Instant Payments, Open Finance — what impact on the Balkans?
- SEPA and its tangible benefits 6 months from live
- What are main challenges and opportunities for payment industry?
- What incentives (or regulations) can accelerate cashless adoption?
Keynote presentation
«Cashless Transformation in Emerging Markets: Lessons for the Balkans»
Keynote presentation
«The Future of Payments in Europe: Instant, Open, Cashless»
Coffee Break & Networking
Keynote presentation
«Payments & Digital Innovation»
Panel Discussion
«Digital Payments Transformation: What will Drive Growth?»
Guiding Questions:
- Key barriers to digitalisation in the region
- Bank–fintech cooperation models
- Mobile payments, instant payments, embedded finance
- What are the most promising business models?
Keynote presentation
«Building Trust: AML, Fraud Prevention and Financial Integrity in the Digital Age»
Panel Discussion
AML, Compliance & Anti-Fraud «Managing Financial Crime Risks in a Rapidly Digitising Region»
Guiding Questions:
- Regional AML/CFT risks
- KYC/KYB challenges for fintechs and PSPs
- Fraud trends in e-commerce & digital channels
- AI/ML: myth vs real impact
- How to ensure compliance at low cost?
Coffee Break & Networking
Panel Discussion
Investment & Strategic Outlook «Why the Balkans Can Become a Fintech Growth Hub»
Guiding Questions:
- What attracts investors?
- Which products have the highest potential?
- Expansion opportunities for potentinal investors and business
- Biggest obstacles to building a regional fintech hub
- Is “cashless 2030” a realistic goal for the region?
Closing Remarks, Q&A, networkin
TERMS OF PARTICIPATION
Date
May 14, 2026
Working language - English
Location
Rogner Hotel Tirana 5*
Bulevardi Deshmoret e Kombit, Tirana, Albania
STANDARD TICKET
150 €
+ VAT
/1 delegate
- Participation in-person
- Speakers presentations
- Coffee-breaks
- Networking opportunities
- Photos of Forum
