BKT Wins Euromoney’s “Bank of the Year” Award
By Alpaslan Düven / London
BKT (Banka Kombëtare Tregëtare), the flagship banking institution of Çalık Group operating in Albania and Kosovo, received the “Bank of the Year” awards for Albania and Kosovo at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, one of the most prestigious honors in the global banking and financial services industry.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Euromoney, one of the United Kingdom’s leading financial publications, was held at The Peninsula London, bringing together chairpersons, chief executives, and senior executives from some of the world’s leading financial institutions to celebrate excellence across global, regional, and country banking categories.
Following the ceremony, Mehmet Usta, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BKT, said the dual recognition reflected the bank’s long-standing commitment to excellence.
“It was a great honor to accept the award on behalf of BKT as Chairman of the Board after being named ‘Bank of the Year – Albania’ by Euromoney. This achievement carries special significance as BKT celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. We are equally proud that our subsidiary, BKT Kosovo, has also been recognized as ‘Bank of the Year’ in Kosovo. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all our employees, stakeholders, and business partners whose dedication and commitment made these prestigious awards possible.”
Seyhan Pencablıgil, Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors of BKT, said the international recognition reinforces the bank’s responsibility to continue delivering value across the region.
“We are deeply honored to receive one of the banking industry’s most prestigious awards. At the same time, every achievement comes with greater responsibility. As the largest, longest-established, and leading bank in our markets, we remain committed to contributing to sustainable economic growth and improving prosperity across the regions where we operate. Our ambition is to further strengthen BKT—one of Albania’s most valuable domestic brands—and position it as an even more influential regional banking brand.”
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are widely regarded as among the highest distinctions in international banking. Each year, the awards recognize outstanding financial institutions across global, regional, and national categories, including Bank of the Year, Best Investment Bank, and Best Private Banking Services, highlighting institutions that demonstrate exceptional performance, innovation, and leadership in the financial sector.
