LONDON, Nov. 3, 2026 — Wahda Bank, one of Libya’s largest lenders, plans to launch digital banking services for businesses in 2027, followed by retail services targeting more than 500,000 customers, under an agreement with Amsterdam-based banking technology provider Backbase.
In a statement released on Tuesday and distributed by APO Group, Backbase said the partnership would enable Wahda Bank to introduce an Arabic-first digital banking platform built on its artificial intelligence-enabled Banking OS, integrating business and consumer banking services into a single system.
The agreement comes as Libya’s banking sector faces growing pressure to modernise financial infrastructure, reduce dependence on physical branches and improve access to electronic payments for businesses and households.
The initial rollout will focus on small and medium-sized businesses, allowing customers to open accounts remotely through electronic identity verification, manage payroll, settle bills and process invoices through a single application.
Retail banking services will follow, including digital card management and personal financial management tools, although the companies did not specify a launch date for the consumer platform.
The system will support Arabic as its primary language, alongside English, reflecting the needs of Libya’s domestic market and its international business community.
Backbase said the platform would also provide branch employees and contact centre staff with a unified view of customer accounts and interactions, potentially improving service delivery and reducing administrative delays.
The initiative aligns with the Central Bank of Libya’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy, which identifies electronic payments, support for small and medium-sized enterprises and artificial intelligence as priorities for modernising the country’s financial services industry.
Libya’s banking system remains heavily dependent on branch-based transactions, with customers often required to visit physical locations for basic services, including opening accounts.
The planned digital platform is intended to address some of these limitations by enabling customers to conduct banking activities remotely.
Jouk Pleiter, founder and chief executive of Backbase, said the partnership would establish a technological foundation for Wahda Bank to expand its digital services.
“Libya is building a modern digital economy in a matter of years, and the banks that shape it will be the ones that start from the right foundation,” Pleiter said.
“Wahda Bank is bringing business and retail banking together on one AI-native platform from the start.”
He added that future services, including corporate banking and conversational artificial intelligence, would operate on the same infrastructure.
The Banking OS will integrate with Wahda Bank’s existing Oracle FLEXCUBE core banking system and Libya’s LYPay and OnePay instant-payment networks, allowing customers to access domestic payment services through the new platform.
The companies also plan to establish joint engineering teams and provide technical training through Backbase Academy, enabling Wahda Bank to develop internal expertise and expand its digital capabilities without relying entirely on external technology providers.
Rami Benissa, chief executive of Wahda Bank, said the agreement represented another stage in the lender’s digital transformation strategy.
“Wahda Bank has been a major contributor to Libya’s economic growth and has consistently been at the forefront of digital transformation in the country,” Benissa said.
“Our partnership with Backbase is the next step on that path. Together, we will give our business and retail customers Arabic-first digital banking on a platform our own engineers will keep extending.”
The announcement was attended by Ahmed Gadalla, chairman of Alushibe Holding Group, a shareholder in Wahda Bank, who highlighted the importance of digital financial services to Libya’s economic development.
“A modern economy depends on people and businesses being able to bank wherever they are,” Gadalla said.
“Too many Libyans still depend on a branch for the most basic services. Wahda Bank’s long-term partnership with Backbase will bring digital banking to customers across the country, and help build the financial system Libya needs to grow.”
For Backbase, the agreement represents an expansion of its presence in Africa, where financial institutions are increasingly investing in digital banking infrastructure to improve customer access and compete with emerging financial technology providers.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Backbase provides banking technology to more than 120 financial institutions worldwide, serving retail, commercial, private banking and wealth management customers.
The company operates across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.
The Wahda Bank project will be implemented in phases, beginning with business banking in 2027, followed by retail services and subsequent additions covering corporate banking and AI-powered customer interactions.
Neither company disclosed the financial value of the agreement or the investment required to deploy the new platform.
The partnership could provide a test of how quickly Libya’s established banks can adopt digital banking infrastructure while addressing the country’s longstanding dependence on physical banking networks and improving access to financial services for businesses and consumers.
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