tbi bank has helped over 300,000 Romanians shop smarter in 2024

In a year marked by a significant rise in prices, Romanians have been looking for quick and efficient financial solutions to better manage their budgets. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) has emerged as an increasingly popular financing model, allowing consumers to make purchases and pay in installments.

This solution is now being used across all industries – from medical and aesthetic services to solar panels and car dealerships. tbi bank, one of the leading challenger banks in Southeast Europe, helped facilitate purchases at partner retailers for more than 300,000 customers in 2024, recording an impressive 72% year-on-year growth.

This strong increase reflects the growing demand for BNPL as a flexible financing alternative, enabling consumers to buy now and pay later in customized installments. At the same time, the total sales value generated through retailer partnerships rose by 38%, while the number of merchant partners grew by 43%, surpassing 15,000 last year.

„In a year when Romanians faced significant financial challenges due to inflation, we remained by their side with smart and cost-effective financing solutions. The rapid growth in the number of customers using BNPL proves that this model addresses a real market need, helping people access the products they want without immediate financial strain. Moreover, our solutions are available across all industries – from medical and aesthetic care to sustainable equipment like solar panels and even automobiles,” said Ionuț Sabadac, VP Merchant Solutions, tbi bank.

BNPL allows 4 interest-free installments for purchases up to 2,000 lei and flexible plans ranging from 6 to 60 installments for higher-value purchases, with costs adjusted to the total order value. The flexibility and accessibility of these solutions continue to change the shopping experience for more and more Romanians, solidifying BNPL as one of the most efficient financial tools on the market—regardless of industry.

About tbi bank

tbi bank is a challenger bank in South-East Europe and a regional leader in alternative payment solutions, combining financing and shopping services to meet customers’ current needs and future consumer trends. Active in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Germany, and Lithuania, tbi bank supports merchants in increasing their sales and consumers to access innovative financial services in a simple and fast digital experience.

Through various digital channels and trusted partnerships with more than 31,000 merchants, tbi bank has a customer base of more than 2 million customers and granted more than 1.000.000 loans in 2024. In Romania, over 200,000 users are constantly using the shopping app created by tbi bank to offer quick and advantageous access to the best deals in 4 interest-free installments or up to 60 fixed installments. tbi bank’s business model and customer-focused approach have made it the one of most profitable and efficient banks in the region.