The ceremonial opening highlighted both the very good results of the sector in the past year and the scale of the challenges it faces in the near future – from geopolitical and macroeconomic situations to increasing regulatory pressure.
“I wanted to thank all representatives of the broad Steering Committee. We are more numerous than ever and I greatly appreciate that. This dialogue is extremely important, because despite the fact that we have just had perhaps the best year in the sector’s history, we all know well that it is cyclical and it will be difficult to repeat it. And we have a lot of challenges ahead, related to geopolitics, macroeconomics and regulations.”— Szymon Midera, Chairman of the Board of PKO Bank Polski
The first day of the event was entirely devoted to the 31st Banking & Insurance Forum. Discussions focused on key factors affecting the functioning of the financial sector – the unstable macroeconomic environment, geopolitical situation, and increasing regulatory pressure.
A significant theme was the change in customer behavior and growing expectations regarding speed, accessibility and simplicity of financial services. In this context, the need for further digitisation and adapting business models to new market realities was emphasised.
A lot of space was also devoted to technology – both in a strategic and operational context. Discussions covered the development of IT infrastructure, core system modernisation and the challenges of migrating from legacy solutions. It was stressed that the key remains reconciling the dynamic development of technology, including AI, with maintaining system stability and security.
On the second day the programme was divided into three parallel tracks: Banking Forum, Insurance Forum and FinTech Digital Congress.
Within the Banking Forum track, discussions focused on the practical aspects of bank operations – digitisation of services, process automation, embedded banking development and compliance with regulations such as the AI Act, DORA, PSD3 or CCD2. A key theme was also the role of data and the development of instant payments and digital identity.
In the Insurance track, discussions covered, among other things, the impact of demographic changes and increasing life expectancy on the health and life insurance market. The importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors and the need to build solutions that meet growing social needs were highlighted. The essence of sector integration was emphasised by Sławomir Łopalewski, Chairman of the Board of LUX MED Ubezpieczenia
“[…] very important is the cooperation between the private and state parts […] so that at the end of the day the citizen benefits.”
Parallel discussions also covered the future of the insurance market – consolidation processes, changing distribution models and the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in personalising offers and managing risk.
Within the FinTech Digital Congress track, discussions focused on the role of technology in the transformation of finance. The event was opened by Jurand Drop, Deputy State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, pointing out the importance of balancing innovation and regulation:
“Technological changes, especially those related to artificial intelligence, are today very fast and important for the financial sector. The key is to create regulations that on the one hand support innovation, and on the other hand ensure safety and build customer trust. Dialogue with the market during their creation is also important.”
This introduction was expanded in a discussion with Adam Marciniak, moderated by Marcin Petrykowski, where the importance of cooperation between banks and fintechs and openness to innovative solutions was emphasised.
In subsequent discussions, the topic of data and artificial intelligence resonated strongly – both in terms of building a competitive advantage and the challenges related to data quality, integration and security. Participants also discussed new models of innovation financing and the growing role of digital payments, including tokenisation and the development of digital wallets.
The entire event was strongly grounded in practice – speakers emphasised that the greatest value of the Finance Leaders Meeting is the opportunity to discuss current challenges and real problems that the sector faces on a daily basis. As Michał Kopyt noted:
“It’s a great place to talk about what will happen soon – not five or ten years from now, but right now, about the problems we have on a daily basis.”
— Michał Kopyt, Board Member, PZU ŻYCIE, Director of Technology and Transformation (CTTO), PZU
The Finance Leaders Meeting once again created a space for exchanging experiences and discussing the most important directions for the development of the financial sector – at the intersection of technology, regulation and changing customer expectations.
Participants included among others:
- Joao Bras Jorge, Chairman of the Board, Bank Millennium
- Mirosław Czekaj, Chairman of the Board, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego
- Jarosław Niemirowski, Vice Chairman of the Board, Warta
- Mark Osterloff, Head of International SIGNAL IDUNA Gruppe
- Aneta Podyma, Chairman of the Board, Unum Życie
- Tomasz Tarkowski, Board Member, PZU
- Prof. Philippe Tibi, Prof economics Ecole polytechnique Paris, French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Recovery
- Piotr Żabski, Chairman of the Board, Alior Bank
- Martin Markiewicz, CEO, Silent Eight
- Maja Schaefer, CEO & Co-founder, Zowie
- Marcin Zygmanowski, Vice Chairman of the Board of Bank supervising the Technological Transformation and Innovation Pillar, Bank Pekao
- Katarzyna Sobolewska, Director of the Bank Transformation Centre, Alior Bank
- Cosmin Cosma, Co-Founder & CEO, Finqware
- Sonia Wędrychowicz, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Strategic Partners of the Finance Leaders Meeting: Accenture, Betacom, UiPath, HITACHI, Limitless Technologies, PKO Bank Polski
Fintech Digital Congress Partners: Finqware, Macura, Zowie
Finance Leaders Meeting Partners: Adacta, Apius Technologies, Ailleron, BGK Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, Comarch, Red Into Green, DLK Legal Korus, EY, IT Solution Factror HPE, Intuitech, KPK Legal, LUXMED UBEZPIECZENIA, MDT, PFR Polski Fundusz Rozwoju, Palo Alto, Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych, Secfense, Temenos, Zowie, WEBCON, ABAK, Profescapital, ZEN.com EXPO
Multimedia Partner: m-sound multimedia
Logistics Partner: MMC Events
Honorary Patronage of the Finance Leaders Meeting: Ministry of State Assets, Ministry of Digital Affairs, National Bank of Poland, European Federation of Financial Advisors, Foundation for Cashless Trade Development, Association of Financial Enterprises in Poland, Polish Economic Society, ARE, Employers, Ai Law Tech
Honorary Patronage of Fintech Digital Congress: Blockchain and New Technologies Chamber of Commerce, Polish Advanced Technology Chamber of Commerce, Polish Bitcoin Association, Blockchain Experts Association, StartUp Hub, StartSmart CEE
Strategic Media Patronage: TVP Info, TVP 3 Warsaw, Money.pl, Witrualna Polska
Media Patronage: Android, Bankujesz, Biznes Alert, Gazeta Ubezpieczeniowa, BS.net, FX MAG, Kobieta i pieniądze, Manager, Newseria, Poradnik przedsiębiorcy, Sare, Stockwatch, CIRE, Forum Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu, Kapitał Polski
The congress is organised by MMC Polska, which hosts prestigious congresses, conferences, workshops and business training dedicated to managerial staff and company boards. More at www.mmcpolska.pl.
