Categoría: People

Introducing Hive Finance Group’s New CFO: Aleksejus Tonkich

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Today, we want to introduce a new Hive Finance Group team member – Aleksejus Tonkich, our new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and our newly appointed governance member. He strengthens our company with over 25 years of financial and banking experience, including significant expertise gained at the Bank of Lithuania – the country’s central bank and financial markets regulator. Thus, Aleksejus is a well-recognised figure in the Lithuanian financial sector. His career goes step by step with Hive Finance’s values and future vision. 

A Proven Track Record in Finance and Governance

As we’ve mentioned before, we’re currently upgrading and strengthening the governance structure at Hive Finance. Aleksejus is joining as a key part of this transformation. Currently, our governance team includes Andrius Rupšys, Aurimas Kačinskas, and Aleksejus Tonkich. The CFO will ensure profitability, timely financial reporting for investors, and long-term financial sustainability. He will also oversee day-to-day financial performance. Meanwhile, the board will take care of strategic expansion into new markets and manage key business risks.

Aleksejus started his career at the Bank of Lithuania,  where he worked from 1997 to 2008. Beginning as an economist in the Accounting Department, he quickly progressed to Deputy Head of the Accounting and Financial Reporting Division. His main responsibilities were developing the Bank’s accounting policy, planning and analysing budgets, preparing annual financial statements, and liaising with external auditors.

Notably, one of his significant achievements was successfully transforming the central bank’s accounting and reporting systems to go side by side with the European System of Central Banks. During this time, he also completed a four-month internship at the European Central Bank, accordingly gaining valuable international insights.

In 2008, Aleksejus joined Medicinos Bankas, where he served for 15 years. He led the Accounting and Reporting Department and was later appointed Deputy CEO and CFO. His responsibilities included full financial oversight, crisis management during the 2009 global recession, strategic planning for euro adoption in Lithuania and collaboration with investors during a 2018 bond issuance. He also played a key role in shaping the transformation strategy of Medicinos Bankas into what is now Urbo Bankas.

Aleksejus’ Vision for Hive Finance

Aleksejus joins Hive Finance with a clear strategic vision. He plans to bring long-term commercial banking expertise into the business. The new CFO will focus on deep process analysis and accurate risk representation in financial reporting. His goal is to contribute significantly to strategic planning at the group level.

«My vision is sustainable and ambitious growth for the Hive Finance Group, making the most of market opportunities while maintaining financial clarity and responsibility,» says Aleksejus.

A Confident Step Forward 

With Aleksejus’ support, we are confident that Hive Finance Group will be ready to face any challenges and grow responsibly across Europe. His knowledge of public and private sector finance, analytical approach, and proven leadership make him one of the main leaders of Hive Finance’s next chapter.

We’re glad to have Aleksejus on board and appreciate that he is sharing his long-standing experience with our team. We believe in a successful collaboration and look forward to achieving great results together

Meet the Leadership Team Driving Hive Finance Group Forward

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At any business, success is powered by people. Behind every strategic move, technological upgrade, and new market entry is a leadership team with deep expertise and a shared vision for growth, transparency, and innovation. Today, we’re proud to introduce the key people shaping Hive Finance.

Andrius Rupšys has recently been appointed as CEO of Hive Finance Group. With over 17 years of entrepreneurial experience, he founded Ruptela in 2007 – an innovative GPS tracking and fleet management company that scaled into a global enterprise with more than 150 employees and clients across 120+ countries. At Hive Finance, Andrius focuses on leading the scale-up phase, enhancing tech infrastructure, and ensuring cross-market operational excellence.

Alex Teslenko is an experienced financial executive currently serving as Hive Finance Group’s Chief Risk Officer and also leading its Spanish venture, Finjet, as CEO. With over 20 years in the financial sector, he has held senior roles ranging from General Director and Head of Collections to Chief Operating Officer at organisations spanning major banks and fintech startups. Among his notable accomplishments, he implemented a new business model that doubled loan recovery rates – it proves his ability to drive significant operational improvements​. At Hive Finance, Alex is a key team member in implementing data-driven risk models to maintain a sustainable loan portfolio.

Wojciech Homan – Managing Director of Ekspres Pozyczka in Poland. He brings over two decades of experience in consumer lending, including leadership roles at Provident – one of Poland’s top consumer finance companies​. Before joining Hive Finance, he held executive roles at several major Polish lending companies. Since launching Ekspres Pozyczka in 2022, Wojciech has driven rapid growth, reaching nearly €800,000 in loans issued within the first four months of operations​. He has also built a team of about 20 professionals. His strategic focus and commitment to operational discipline have positioned the company among market leaders.

Laur Emilian – Chairman of the Board & CEO of Credilink in Romania. His career is marked by numerous significant achievements, demonstrating his ability to lead and transform financial institutions. He has spearheaded major initiatives such as launching Raiffeisen Digital Bank’s greenfield operations and leading Mobilo Finance’s expansion to achieve a 30% increase in turnover while reducing risk costs by 40%​. With deep expertise in business transformation, startup development, and strategic marketing – bolstered by an MBA in International Business and Finance from Ajou University and a PhD-level fellowship in Strategic Marketing​ – Laur combines strategic vision with hands-on execution. At Hive Finance, he provides crucial guidance in aligning governance standards with long-term business planning, ensuring transparency and strong decision-making at the highest level.

Luis M. Garcia Ortega, Operation Manager at Finjet, brings over 16 years of experience in fintech and alternative lending. He has consistently delivered strong results in boosting operational efficiency and investment performance. Previously, he held senior roles in operations, marketing, and business development at Ferratum Group – a globally recognised financial institution. His career includes leading online and offline sales strategies and successfully launching services in new international markets. Since joining Finjet, Luis has demonstrated deep insight into borrower behaviour.

Inga Zubanove – Head of Operations at hive5. Inga has over 12 years of experience managing multi-market operational processes in financial institutions and service companies. Simply put, she ensures all Hive Finance parts work well together. With a detail-oriented mindset and expertise in scaling operational workflows, Inga transforms complex structures into actionable, efficient systems. She plays a key role in aligning teams, systems, and timelines to keep operations consistent and effective.

Karolina Tamaševičė – Chief Marketing Officer at hive5. With 10 years of marketing experience in fintech and e-commerce, Karolina previously served as Head of Digital Marketing at another P2P platform, helping it become one of the top platforms in Europe. At Hive Finance, she leads all marketing and communication strategies, focusing on investor engagement, brand visibility, and performance-driven campaigns. Her work has helped bring in many new investors and keep existing ones returning.

Each member of this team brings something essential to Hive Finance. Their combined expertise ensures that Hive Finance continues to grow responsibly while delivering value to everyone.

«Invite a Friend» Program is Currently Available

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We’re happy to announce that our «Invite a Friend» program is currently available for participation.

You now have the opportunity to earn rewards by inviting a friend to join Hive5. When your friend registers and makes an investment on our platform, both you and your friend will receive a reward based on the investment amount.

Here’s how it works:

  • If your friend invests EUR 500 – EUR 999.99, both you and your friend will receive a EUR 20 reward.
  • If your friend invests EUR 1,000 – EUR 2,499.99, both you and your friend will receive a EUR 40 reward.
  • If your friend invests EUR 2,500 – EUR 4,999.99, both you and your friend will receive a EUR 60 reward.
  • If your friend invests EUR 5,000 – EUR 9,999.99, both you and your friend will receive a EUR 90 reward.
  • For investments of EUR 10,000 or more, you and your friend will each receive 1% of the total investment amount, with a maximum reward of EUR 1,000.

Terms and Conditions:

  1. The User must be registered on the Hive5 platform.
  2. A deposit must be made within 30 days after registration.
  3. The referral bonus is calculated exclusively on the referred friend’s first deposit made within 30 days from registration. Any additional deposits made after the first deposit, even if completed within the same 30-day period, are not eligible for the referral bonus.
  4. After making a deposit, the User must email support@hive5.com with the name of the person who referred them to confirm their participation.
  5. The referred party must be a natural person who is at least 18 years old.
  6. The User is eligible to participate in the Invite a Friend Program, provided they meet the program’s Terms and Conditions.
  7. The User and the referred party must be different individuals; companies are not eligible for the Invite a Friend Program.
  8. The referred party must be a new client registered on the Hive5 platform.
  9. Hive5 will reward both the User and the referred party if all conditions in these Terms and Conditions are met. The reward will be deposited into their Virtual Accounts within 30 days after receiving the referred party’s confirmation email.
  10. The User can refer an unlimited number of individuals and receive rewards for each referred party who fulfills the necessary conditions.
  11. If any fraudulent activity is detected, the reward will not be granted.

Don’t miss your chance to earn extra money by sharing Hive5 with your friends!

Thank you for being a valued part of our community, and we look forward to seeing you and your friends benefit from this opportunity.

2024 August Monthly Review: The Steady Growth in Originated Loans

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Looking back on August, it’s clear that hive5 continues to experience steady growth and positive improvements. Our commitment to providing valuable investment opportunities is reflected in the numbers, and we’re excited to share the latest results with you.

Let’s take a look at the main business results for August:

  • Total loan volume funded since inception: 57,541,885 Eur
  • Loan volume originated in August: 3,734,058 Eur
  • Number of loans originated in August: 6,584
  • The average nominal interest rate of loans originated in August: 14.7%
  • Number of active investors: 12,998

In August, we reached a 4% increase in loan volume originated from the previous month. This steady growth proves our investors’ trust in us and the consistent quality of our opportunities. With a total loan volume funded since inception now exceeding 57.5 million EUR, hive5 is firmly on a steady expansion path.

In addition, we’re constantly working on making our platform more user-friendly. Soon, we will introduce the option to download account statements directly from the platform. This new feature will provide greater convenience for our investors, who have been waiting for this improvement.

Last month, we reached a significant milestone in launching Romanian loans, which met with overwhelming interest. The high demand for these loans was evident as they sold out within a few days. This rapid uptake highlights both the strong market potential in Romania and investors’ confidence in our new products. We are pleased to see such trust and enthusiasm in our business.

As we move forward, our team focuses on sustaining this growth while introducing new features and products that enhance the hive5 experience. With nearly 13,000 active investors and expanding loan offerings, hive5 is well-positioned to continue delivering strong results. We look forward to sharing more successes with you in the coming months

Meet the Team Behind Spain’s Loan Originator

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We have long planned and carefully prepared to launch a new loan originator Finjet in Spain. The critical criteria for new employees were a proven Fintech company track record and deep knowledge of the lending market. Luckily, the new team members meet these requirements and are true field professionals.

Alex Teslenko – CEO of Finjet

Firstly, please meet the CEO of Finjet, Alex Teslenko, who has worked as COO at Hive Finance for over a year. Hence, before developing Finjet, the CEO of Hive Finance, Ričardas Vandzinskas, could not imagine someone more suitable for this responsible role in Spain. Alex has worked in banks and non-banking companies for over two decades as the General Director, the Head of the Collection and the COO, from massive Banks to fintech startups. Therefore, he is practically familiar with the international legal aspects of lending, credit risks and successful financial business development strategies. Alex has achieved many considerable business achievements, including implementing a new business model that has doubled the recovery rate. Beyond the world of finance, he finds joy in the guitar’s rhythm and the coding. Undoubtedly, his passion for music and programming creates a balance between the structured world of finance and his creative personality.

Luis M. Garcia Ortega – Operation Manager

Please meet Luis M. Garcia Ortega, the Operation Manager at Finjet. With 15 years of experience in fintech and alternative lending, Luis has a proven track record of maximising investment returns. His expertise includes operations, marketing, and business development at a well-known Global financial company Ferratum group. Moreover, Luis has successfully managed online and offline sales channels and has international experience, including opening foreign markets. From beginning his work with Finjet, he has shown a specific knowledge of borrowers’ behaviour. When he’s not working on operations, you might find him refreshing his mind by enjoying swimming or CrossFit.

Antón Amann – Marketing Manager

Finally, please meet one more important team member – the Marketing Manager, Antón Amann, a curious soul who knows how to attract new customers and make them loyal to companies. Driven by curiosity, he constantly explores innovative marketing strategies. He has vast experience in fintech companies and retail within an Agile environment. He worked at Dineo Credito, a popular loan provider in Spain, for over five years. Hence, he brings the team a strong knowledge of micro-lending in Spain. Antón is a true professional in planning communication, business strategies and improving customer journeys. He also has a proven business development track record, making him an even bigger expert than other marketing professionals. Beyond his passion for growing sales numbers, he is interested in various sports, though his favourite is golf.

We strongly believe that the combination of Alex Teslenko’s leadership, Luis M. Garcia Ortega’s operational skills, and Antón Amann’s extensive marketing and communication experience promises a thrilling journey for Finjet.

Interview with CEO of Ekspres Pozyczka. Team and the business results

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It has been almost four months since the first issued loan of Expres Pozyczka in Poland. The company is led by CEO Wojciech Homan – a real professional with a proven track record in the financial field. Thus, today we would like to share some of his thoughts about the team, the company’s recent results and the following plans.

Firstly, tell us briefly about yourself and your work experience.

Before joining Ekspres Pozyczka , I worked at another top-rated consumer lending company in Poland – Provident . Accordingly, I have over 20 years of progressive experience developing offline and online businesses in multinational environments. I studied business management at the University of Economics and graduated MBA diploma at The Polish Open University in Warsaw.

Moreover, I enjoy being a part of a productive team. In my opinion, such a team requires a positive attitude and a strong willingness to work hard on one goal. I could proudly say, luckily, we have such a team in our company.

Which daily task do you enjoy the most?

I have collected the majority experience in sales and business development. Accordingly, I like to negotiate, manage large sales structures, implement business and risk strategies and generally develop business.

Tell us more about the team of Ekspres Pozyczka. Could you introduce some of them?

We have collected a strong team of professionals in consumer lending. The corresponding top or middle-level manager provides each important business process. In particular, the company employs a marketing director, IT manager, collection director, call centre manager, development project manager, and financial manager. I am thrilled to work with passionate, experienced team members, to be exact, 20 of them. One of them is Ewa Dulinicz – Head of Marketing. She was a professional marketing director in media agencies, working on omnichannel communication for agency clients; moreover, she worked at the first fully digital Polish online bank – mBank. She is responsible for marketing strategy with a strong emphasis on digital performance activities at Ekspres Pozyczka. Another critical manager of the team is Adrian Kalinski – Head of Dept Collections. He is a skilled, open-minded, and business-oriented professional with 15+ years of experience in the financial sector. He is a pro in debt collection, pre-court matters, restructuring, customers’ debt, selling debt portfolios and cooperation with debt recovery external services.

What is the results of Ekspres Pozyczka? What are the following plans for the company?

The total loan volume since inception seeks 793 255 Eur and total loan volume originated in September seeks 569 198 Eur . By investing in Polish consumers and business loans you can earn up to 15% of annual return.

We are maximalists; although we see the company’s numbers growing monthly and feel satisfied with them, we expect the sales to grow even more in the coming months. Hence, our short-term goal is to continue dynamic growth utilizing end-of-year good market conjuncture. We want to achieve our operational and financial targets and build a perfect foundation for the upcoming year.

Recently, we have also noticed that the need for borrowing grows as the heating season approaches. Thus, from recent discussions with investment bloggers and other sophisticated investors, we know that many have currently moved their other asset-class investments to p2p platforms. This movement is reasonable, as economists now unanimously agree on the future rising demand for consumer loans.

Secondly, our long-term goal is to develop a few new financial products to give our customers more tailored financial solutions. We are currently working on a credit line, virtual and plastic cards. It’s a flexible loan that consists of a defined amount of money that customers can access as needed and repay immediately or over time. These products will be established by the beginning of 2023.

Could you share some of the main metrics of your average customer?

Sure, here are the main metrics: Gender: 57% female, 43% male.

Residence: 60% from cities with population 0f 50k, 13%+ from villages. Age: the majority of 35-45 years old. Income: up to 1200 Eur. Purpose of the loan: holiday trips, repairment, desired things, paying off other loans, bills.

Tell us about the debt recovery processes at Ekspres Pozyczka.

We start the debt recovery process ten days before the loan’s due date. Firstly, the borrower is offered to refinance for the current loan with a payment of interest and commissions accrued over the period of use. Next comes the soft-collection stage. On the 30th day past due, the loan agreement is transferred to the professional debt recovery agencies. Then the debts remaining 60th days past due are sold and written off from the Loan originators’ balance. As a result, our Loan originator collects 75% of the overdue amount 5-60 days past due.

It is important to note that Ekspres Pozyzcka strongly focuses on risk mitigation and management. These are Ekspres Pozyczka’s everyday priority tasks at the strategic and tactical levels of daily operations. Ekspres Pozyczka is a second-to-none P2P organisation which shall shortly introduce COSO methodology-based enterprise management process within group entities. The company is among the few in the market that have recently implemented a revolutionary AI-based, multisource Big Data scorecard decision engine. It allows not only to filter the fraud but also correctly manage and plan the default and ensure a fast-forward scale of the quality loan portfolio in Poland. Thus, «Ekspres Pozyczka» has implemented a scoring model that includes many factors based on 3,4 mln. samples.

What do you like the most about Ekspres Pozyczka?

It is a fantastic atmosphere. And what is most important, we enjoy what we do. As a result, customers appreciate our quick decision-making, fast implementation of new projects based on high-technology solutions and well-coordinated team.

Head of Operations, Inga Zubanove

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We are thrilled to have experienced, successful and, most important passionate team members at the «Hive5» workplace. One of them is the Head of Operations, Inga Zubanove, an experienced team player and strategist. Today we would like to share some of her thoughts about daily tasks, the advantages of the «Hive5», and following development plans.

Firstly, tell us briefly about yourself and your work experience.

Throughout my career, I have enjoyed bravely accepting new challenges, quickly adapting to new places and being a part of a productive team. My extensive experience includes customer care, daily operations and process management within financial and legal sectors. Before joining «Hive5», I worked for more than 3 years in a successful investment marketplace. My main task as an operations specialist is to find creative solutions based on the company’s strengths and goals.

Which daily task do you enjoy the most?

It is hard to pick only one. But firstly, I enjoy measuring customer satisfaction and taking action to improve services. And secondly, I could spend countless hours implementing automation to save costs and make work more efficient, most importantly, for our customers.

What do you like the most about «Hive5»?

I love the atmosphere here. There is an entrepreneurial spirit within, where everybody is ready to help everyone. Moreover, the work culture encourages creativity; I can always share my ideas with the CEO and other executives and feel trusted and appreciated. Hence, it encourages everyone to achieve better results together.

In addition, the company continuously keeps innovating. It is genuinely motivating that we are developing a great, modern, easy-to-use investment tool that makes investing processes as simple as they should be.

In your opinion, what is the most important element of a successful company?

People. Honest, friendly and with a good sense of humour. I love to maintain long-lasting relationships with my colleagues. And trust me, everyone could achieve enormous business goals by working hard, enjoying it, and sharing a good laugh together.

What makes» Hive5″ unique among others?

Although it is just the beginning, I can see our company’s enormous potential. Mainly because of the ambitious management team and its unique mindset. We have committed to better impacting our environment and society by creating a sustainable business strategy. One of the top priorities is to finance companies that aim to bring renewable energy products to life. In other words, we will do everything to meet the company’s and customers’ needs today while protecting resources and creating sustainable processes for the future.

Moreover, investors will be able to diversify their investment portfolios among many types of loans. In the future, we will use AI to make the entire investment process easier. The system will automatically offer the loans that would be the most relevant to investors based on their previous investments or the history of similar customers who have invested on the platform. Besides, we are working on many more technology-based solutions.

Could you share more of the following development plans for «Hive5»?

«Hive5» will be gradually upgraded by adding new features and functionalities, considering clients’ feedback and expectations. We are working on the larger scope of developments: 1. Loan originators’ periodical statistics, financial key figures, and current portfolio. 2. Tax statement (tax statement will be generated for the selected period for the investor to declare earned profit to tax authorities). 3. More detailed data regarding made investments (in the export file, current/ finished investments) to track the loans customers have invested, their status, received payment dates, investment duration and earned profit. 4. Statement section development, including account summary, to see a complete overview of all investment activity. Investors will be able to check all the activities, such as open deposits, withdrawals, investments, transactions and received repayments. Finally, a further plan (at the end of 2023) is to develop a Mobile application.

We can’t wait to reveal many more valuable features that are up to come. Therefore, we promise to keep improving the platform to meet your expectations.

Please feel free to send us your feedback and request to support@hive5.com or by phone at +3706039515.