TBC Wins at the Kong Innovator Awards 2026 in Los Angeles

TBC’s technology team returned from the Kong Innovator Awards 2026 with a major accolade, earning international recognition in the Top Kong Innovator – Developer Experience category.

At the Kong API + AI Summit 2026, also held in Los Angeles, TBC representatives Sergo Rostiashvili and Vato Veliashvili shared the story of the bank’s technological transformation with an international audience.

The summit featured insights from Kong executives and representatives of leading international companies, including Spotify, Dell, Prudential and Ericsson.

TBC’s technology team presented the transformation of the bank’s API integration platform: a shift from a centralized model to a decentralized API ecosystem that enables teams to independently discover, use, publish and manage APIs.

As a result, the time required to build integrations at the bank fell by 80%, while the process became simpler.

The Challenge That Led to the Solution

For technology organizations, scaling means more than creating additional products and services. It also changes how teams work. When every new integration depends on a single centralized team, that team’s workload can slow development across the organization.

TBC faced this challenge as the number of products and technological requirements grew.

Previously, the bank used a centralized integration model, with one team responsible for most integration development. To address growing demand, TBC decided to move to a decentralized API ecosystem. Under this model, product teams gain greater autonomy, while the central integration team focuses on developing the platform, maintaining shared standards and supporting other teams.

An internal portal was also created, giving teams access to an API catalog containing information about services, their owners, documentation and usage guidelines. Teams no longer need to contact multiple people to obtain this information, making APIs easier to discover and use.

The new model delivered tangible results: integration development time decreased by 80%, the platform serves 150 TBC teams, and it processes more than 8 billion API requests per month.

Sergo Rostiashvili and Vato Veliashvili discuss the technological and organizational aspects of the project.

Sergo Rostiashvili, Platforms League Lead:

“Both organizational process changes and the implementation of Kong’s technology were important. The key factor was reducing dependence on the centralized integration team and shifting that team toward a platform-based approach.

“Product teams gained the ability to independently publish, discover and use APIs while adhering to shared standards. The internal portal helps them find the information they need in one place.

“Ultimately, we created an ecosystem in which teams have fewer dependencies on one another and can build new services and integrations faster.”

What does this award mean for TBC’s technological development, and what opportunities does the new architecture create for future digital products?

“This is significant international recognition of TBC’s ability to address complex technological and organizational challenges through modern approaches. It is particularly rewarding that we were recognized not only for implementing technology, but also for changing our operating model and improving the experience of technology teams across the organization.

“The new architecture creates a more flexible and scalable foundation for future digital products. When teams can quickly find and use the APIs they need, they can also develop new services faster. This enables us to respond more quickly to customer needs and introduce innovations more efficiently.

“Work on the project is continuing. We are making further improvements to simplify API discovery and access to information, while making the platform more efficient and increasingly self-service.”

What was the biggest challenge during the project, and what did participating in the summit mean to you?

Vato Veliashvili, Systems Analyst / Team Captain:

“The biggest challenge was engaging teams and helping them understand why the changes were necessary and important. Without their involvement, achieving the desired results would have been difficult. I believe we successfully overcame this challenge, and teams now have a clearer understanding of the value of these changes.

“This award is important recognition for our team. It confirms that we are moving in the right direction in API management and developer experience, and that we already have tangible results.”

What lessons did the team learn that will be useful in future technology projects?

“The main lesson is that successful technological change involves more than implementing a platform. Developing processes, standards and ways of working is equally important.

“We also saw how automation and artificial intelligence can help simplify complex, large-scale tasks, improve quality and deliver results that benefit the entire organization.”

TBC’s experience shows that improving developer experience goes beyond choosing a technology tool. Achieving results requires an environment where teams can access the resources they need, work independently and continue developing within a shared set of standards.