The ingredients behind Banking 4.0

Banking 4.0: Embedded is the answer! it took place in Bucharest in 2022. In this article, we take a look at the main themes and takeaways from the event.

As we enter the new year, we remember the key insights that 2022 brought with it in digital banking. Last year, Bucharest was the meeting place for the most influential voices in banking and finance. The seventh edition of Banking 4.0 – Embedded is the answer! it has gradually become the reference meeting for international financial experts and local bankers. The latest edition of the event came with a series of novelties, both in the thematic content and in the development format and management structure.

For those of you who have not been able to join or were attendees and would like to remember the great experience you had for two days in the oldest bank in Romania, The Marmorosch, Bucharest, here is your summary.

24 discussion topics for all tastes

The topics covered at the conference ranged from the impact of the metaverse in banking to the development of Web3 services and how to recruit and retain talent, without which any technology, capital or strategy is useless in the digital transformation process.

Panels and presentations covered emerging technologies and topics specific to digital banking: automation of banking processes, banking as a service, cloud computing, digital onboarding and digital identity, the impact of blockchain technology, and SoftPOS in the payment industry. , the role of artificial intelligence in the personalization of offers at the client level (and not by client category), Open Banking & Open Finance, instant payments from account to account, cybersecurity.

‘It was the third time that I was in Banking 4.0. We had a great program on integrated finance, integrated payments, integrated banking, and all the opportunities that are out there. The good thing about integrated finance is that it is a very broad spectrum. The speakers were great, from consultants to Romanian authorities and fintechs.Gij Boudewijn, General Manager of the Dutch Payments Association.

Two market studies presented their results

With the changes in the banking ecosystem and the transition to integrated banking, relevant market players are trying to analyze how customers perceive the changes. The organizers have prepared two market studies for the first time. One study was conducted by Banca Transilvania and focused on how people view remote banking in an almost entirely online world. The second study was carried out by Lendrise and was designed to evaluate mobile banking applications in Romania, for banks that cover more than 80% of the market, from the user’s perspective.

Four applied workshops were held

For this edition of Banking 4.0, the organizers placed a lot of emphasis on workshops. For each day of the event, there were two workshops, on very hot topics: one of them, related to the electronic processing of checks and promissory notes, was presented by Mihai Babescu, ASSECO SEE Business Automation Manager; Mida Soft Business gave another workshop on cyber security tips: how to choose the right tools for an efficient security stack; As Managing Director of Transaction Systems in Hungary, Panos Chalkias led how PAX Technology’s dedicated POS terminals can help companies across all industries address the challenges they are facing post-pandemic; As startups have become increasingly important in banking, the event couldn’t stop discussing funding opportunities for startups (Ronin CFO Dan Berciu).

‘The Brand’ found its owners

It is said that in the 1920s, The Marmorosch Blank Bank was the most powerful commercial bank in Romania. By 1923, Marmorosch, Blank & Co was a global institution, with more than thirty representative offices, including those in New York, London, Paris, and Istanbul, controlling business from England to China. As a result of the world economic crisis of 1930, the Marmorosch Blank Bank became insolvent. The National Bank of Romania intervened forcefully to save him. Marmorosch Bank would be nationalized by the communist regime in 1948, 100 years after its founding.

To celebrate this special edition, the organizers have launched a dedicated gold coin. Made of mouth-blown gold alloy, the coin was dropped directly into the vault of the former Marmorosch bank, so that those present can relive the experience of entering the vault as it was a century ago.

Situated at an expert level, the 7th edition of Banking 4.0, the digital banking event of the year in Romania has brought together more than 70 speakers from 23 countries. The 2 stages shared 24 discussion panels from the broad spectrum of integrated banking, 4 applied workshops and the premiere of 2 market studies.

‘The kind of things you are doing in Romania for me is always a positive surprise. I see the rhythm, the evolution of the topics, the number of companies and the discussions are always up to date, so I think there is a coincidence with what is happening throughout Europe. The event itself is one of the best I have been to. The speaker lineup is excellent. Overall, for me, it was a great event and I look forward to the next one”, Panagiotis Kriaris, Head of Business Development at Unzer.

There are big plans for 2023

In addition to the expected growth for the fintech market in the coming years, likely to triple its value, there are also other major projects on the agenda for the organizers of Banking 4.0. To put Central and Eastern Europe on the map for blockchain and fintech innovation requires major events that address a growing need for cross-border interconnection and collaboration.

Unchain Fintech Festival, the regional event aimed at central and commercial banks, financial service providers, technology companies and the entire fintech and blockchain ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe, will take place on June 22 and 23, 2023, at Oradea Fortress, https: //unchainfestival.com/. In preparation for Unchain, a series of pre-events will be organized to engage each region’s local ecosystem (startups, investors, accelerators, incubators, and professional associations), thus creating a CEE blockchain and fintech innovation network for business and growth. .

Aiming for better engagement between banks, fintechs, startups, tech companies, and key ecosystem players across the region, interested in collaborating with teams and conducting proofs of concept, new businesses, new partnerships, hackathons, and events are expected. regional. to happen in 2023, but more on that, soon, here.

About Alexandra Pollack

Alexandra Pollack is a veteran of the tech events industry and for the past 12 years has hosted large-scale B2B trade shows, innovation conferences, and start-up programs, ranging from a couple hundred to 15,000 attendees. She now focuses on the CEE startup ecosystem, specifically on strengthening the regional network in fintech, blockchain and cybersecurity.

About Unchain Media

With its goal of putting Central and Eastern Europe on the map for fintech and blockchain innovation, Unchain Media brings to market a growing need for cross-border interconnectivity and collaboration that we have addressed through all of our projects over the years. .