Mustafa Tiftikcioğlu,
CEO Garanti BBVA Romania
When I first arrived in Romania, I was expecting to discover a dynamic market with strong growth potential and a fast-evolving banking sector.
What I did not fully anticipate was how deeply I would connect with this country, its people, and its culture. Romania has remarkable potential, combining entrepreneurial spirit and resilience with openness to innovation and digital transformation. Over the years, I have also come to appreciate how ambitious and adaptable Romanians are, especially during periods of change.
Leading Garanti BBVA Romania during this period has been both a professional responsibility and a personal journey. Banking is ultimately about trust, built through consistency, empathy, and being present when it matters most. This philosophy has guided our work as we focused not only on strengthening the bank’s performance, but also on building meaningful relationships with customers, employees, and partners.
For Garanti BBVA Romania, the past few years have been a period of transformation, investment, and steady growth. We have continued to modernize the bank and invest in technology and customer experience, always with a clear objective: making banking simpler and more accessible. Today, customers can manage almost every essential banking need fully online, from onboarding and lending to everyday financial operations, with greater flexibility and convenience.
Beyond investing in technology, we have focused on creating a banking experience that remains human, accessible, and easy to navigate. Even in an increasingly digital world, the ability to stay close to customers remains just as important as technological progress. I believe the future of banking will belong to institutions capable of combining technology with a genuine understanding of people’s needs.
Customer expectations have changed significantly over the past decade. People expect banking services to be intuitive, available whenever they need them, and seamlessly integrated into their daily lives. This evolution has challenged banks to rethink not only the products they offer, but also the speed, simplicity, and transparency of every interaction. For us, digitalization has never been an objective in itself. Technology must simplify experiences, reduce complexity, and create more time for personal interactions. In a rapidly changing environment, competitiveness depends on agility, operational excellence, and the ability to anticipate evolving customer expectations.
At the same time, we have remained committed to healthy growth. Garanti BBVA Romania continued to strengthen its position in the local market, while maintaining a strong focus on responsible banking, customer confidence, and operational resilience. Consistent results over recent years have confirmed the strength of our business model and our ability to navigate an increasingly complex economic environment and changing market conditions.
Behind every transformation project, every new digital capability, and every business result stands a team of talented professionals. One of my priorities throughout these years has been creating an environment where people feel empowered to contribute, develop their skills, and take initiative. Banking is changing rapidly, but success continues to depend on motivated teams capable of combining expertise, adaptability, and collaboration. I strongly believe that long-term success depends on creating opportunities for people to develop, contribute, and reach their full potential.
What I believe differentiates a modern bank today is not only financial performance or technological capability, but also its ability to contribute positively to society. Banks play an important role in supporting sustainable development, financial inclusion, and social progress, and this conviction has shaped many of the initiatives we are involved in across Romania.
In this respect, community investment is not separate from our business philosophy; it is a natural extension of how we understand our responsibility as a financial institution. Supporting access to education, encouraging entrepreneurship, promoting culture, and protecting the environment are all ways of investing in the long-term resilience and prosperity of society. These initiatives create opportunities, strengthen communities, and help build a more sustainable future.
Culture occupies a special place in our community investment strategy because it has the power to bring people together and preserve identity. We are proud to support institutions and projects such as the George Enescu Philharmonic and the Romanian Athenaeum, as well as the Sibiu International Theatre Festival and Shakespeare International Festival held in Craiova. These partnerships reflect our commitment to cultural excellence and diversity.
Education, financial literacy, and equal access to opportunities are also important priorities for us, reflected in our partnerships with organizations such as Teach for Romania, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, the Romanian Red Cross, and Calea Victoriei Foundation. Supporting entrepreneurship is equally essential. Small and medium-sized businesses play a vital role in economic development, job creation, and the long-term growth. Through partnerships with non-profit organizations such as Romanian Business Leaders Foundation, CONAF, and PEFA, we support initiatives that help strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and encourage sustainable growth.
Environmental responsibility remains a key pillar of our vision. By collaborating with organizations such as World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Romania), EcoAssist, and Wild Romania, we contribute to projects focused on conservation, biodiversity, reforestation, and environmental awareness. These initiatives reflect our belief that economic development must go hand in hand with protecting natural resources and preserving ecosystems for future generations.
Over time, I have come to understand that leadership is also about listening and learning continuously. Romania has taught me many things: adaptability, openness to change, and the importance of authentic relationships. One of the best ways to understand a country is to travel through it, meet people outside boardrooms and offices, and experience local communities firsthand. Over the years, I have explored many parts of Romania, from Bucovina and Sibiu to the Danube Delta and the Black Sea coast. These experiences help you remain grounded and connected to reality.
Looking ahead, I remain optimistic about Romania’s future. The country continues to evolve, driven by talent, innovation, and resilience. I believe the financial sector will continue to play an important role in supporting this transformation by enabling investment, accelerating digitalization, and contributing to a more sustainable economy. For Garanti BBVA Romania, what remains essential is staying close to our customers and communities, strengthening trust and supporting Romania’s long-term development in a responsible way.
