Baltic-founded fintech says it issued €690m in loans in the first five months of 2026 as founder Andrejus Trofimovas is recognised for leadership, market expansion and responsible risk management

Aventus Group and its founder have won three honours at the European Business Awards 2026 after the Baltic-founded fintech reported loan growth of more than 30 per cent in the first five months of the year.

The company, founded in 2009, was recognised in the categories CEO of the Year in the Financial Services Industry – Europe 2026, Global Impact for Responsible FinTech & Risk Management 2026, and Outstanding Leadership in FinTech Expansion & Market Growth 2026.

The awards recognise the group’s financial performance, international expansion, work in digital lending, risk management and the development of accessible financial services across several regions.

Aventus Group, which began as a regional business in the Baltics, now operates in more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The group employs more than 5,000 people and serves millions of customers through a business spanning digital lending, real estate, leasing and technology.

Its founder Andrejus Trofimovas said the company’s expansion had been built around long-term growth rather than short-term opportunities.

He said: “Our objective was never simply to grow for the sake of growth. We wanted to build a sustainable international business capable of delivering value to customers, employees, investors, and partners across different markets. The recognition we have received reflects the dedication of thousands of people who contribute to that vision every day.”

The latest figures show Aventus Group companies issued €690m in loans during the first five months of 2026, compared with €528m in the same period last year.

May was the strongest month reported, with preliminary figures showing monthly loan issuance of €158m, up from €108m in May 2025, an annual increase of 46 per cent.

The results follow a strong 2025, when Aventus Group companies issued about €1.3bn in loans and generated net profit of €95.67m.

Since its establishment, group companies have issued more than €7bn in loans.

Trofimovas said the figures showed the business was still growing strongly after 17 years.

“What makes these results especially meaningful is that they come after 17 years of operations. We are no longer a startup, yet we continue growing at a pace that many young technology companies would consider ambitious. This demonstrates the scalability of our business model and the strength of our teams worldwide,” he added.

The company said the European Business Awards recognition for responsible fintech and risk management reflected its investment in technology, advanced analytics and automated decision-making systems.

Those systems, it said, were intended to improve customer experience while supporting responsible lending and disciplined risk management.

“Innovation in financial services must go hand in hand with responsibility,” Trofimovas added. “Technology allows us to deliver faster and more accessible financial solutions, but sustainable growth depends on maintaining rigorous risk management standards and building trust with customers, investors, and regulators.”

Aventus Group has made geographic diversification central to its strategy, continuing to expand in existing markets while preparing launches in Brazil and the Dominican Republic in 2026.

The group is also assessing further opportunities in other regions and preparing to introduce mobile phone financing products in Mexico, South Africa and Peru.

Aventus Group said diversification had helped the business withstand disruption after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It has fulfilled all war-affected obligations to investors, repaying tens of millions of euros while maintaining business continuity across its international operations.

It also said it had allocated more than €4m to humanitarian and charitable initiatives supporting Ukraine, medical institutions, volunteer organisations and children facing severe health challenges.

Trofimovas told The European: “The experience reinforced a lesson we have always believed in: diversification is not only a growth strategy, but also a resilience strategy. A globally diversified business is better positioned to navigate unexpected challenges and continue fulfilling its commitments.”

Although one of the awards carries Trofimovas’s name, he said the recognition in fact belonged to the entire organisation.

“Leadership awards are never about one individual. They represent the efforts of thousands of colleagues, partners, and stakeholders who contribute to our success every day,” he explained. “I see these distinctions as recognition of our collective work, our culture of innovation, and our shared ambition to continue building a truly global financial technology company.”

The European Business Awards are the latest in a series of 2026 honours for Trofimovas and Aventus Group.

Earlier this year, International Investor Magazine named Trofimovas FinTech CEO of the Year – Europe 2026, while Aventus Group was named Most Innovative Credit Provider – Europe 2026.

The group was also recognised by PanFinance as Best Digital Lending & Credit Solutions Provider – Europe 2026.

Jon Kirk, managing editor of The European, said the recognition reflected the kind of international business growth the awards were designed to highlight.

He said: “Aventus Group’s expansion from the Baltics into more than 20 markets shows how quickly financial technology businesses can scale when growth is matched with discipline, diversification and clear risk management.

“These awards recognise Aventus Group’s commercial performance, but also the discipline required to build sustainable financial services businesses across different regions, regulatory environments and customer needs.”

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_{Main image: Andrejus Trofimovas. Credit: Supplied.}