The 10th Annual CEE Retail Banking conference offers an unrivalled opportunity for the entire retail banking sector to meet, learn, network and plan the future direction of CEE‘s dynamic retail banking industry. Several topics are being discussed into depth: current retail banking issues in the CEE region (insights by Postova Banka Slovakia, Citi Hungary, Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo and Swedbank Latvia executives), branch banking and its relationship with, and the development of, the multi-channel.

Their know-how on the powers customers posses will be discussed by representatives of Ergo Austria, NLB Slovenia, SEB Latvia, Akbank Turkey and Hypo Alpe Adria Croatia.

Faithful to our long-standing annual tradition, we managed once again to build a top event in the region. It‘s our honour to welcome professionals from some of the region‘s best banks according to 2012 surveys by magazine such as the Banker or Global Finance from Slovenia to Russia and from Estonia to Turkey.

The Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge, located directly in the centre of one of Europe‘s most beautiful cities Budapest, which also happens to be the financial centre of Central Europe, is located right at the Danube riverfront. The hotel offers spectacular views of the famous Chain Bridge and is located in the vicinity of the Hungarian Parliament and the Budapest Opera, just across the river from the Buda Castle.

Day one was opened after 09.00 o‘clock by its chair, Piraeus Bank‘s Sotiris Sirmakezis, followed by keynotes by Anil Sreedhar (Suntec), Batara Sianturi (Citi Hungary), Claire Richardson (Verint) and Igor Barat (Postova Banka). Mr. Barat and Mr. Sianturi also participated in the following Special Feature Strategic Hard Talk, an exclusive panel discussion led by C-level and strategic executives which addressed the crucial areas of present and future retail banking. Their colleagues in the panel were Mr. Maris Mancinskis (Swedbank, Latvia, CEO) and Mr. Bernd Hartweger (Paybox Bank, Austria, CEO).

“Long gone are times when a retail bank was known and - more important - used by its clients solely in a way of coming to one of its branches and talking to a clerk behind the desk, or - even more often - behind a bullet-proof thick glass barrier. Banking was about questions, incomprehensible answers and filling piles of even less comprehensible forms - all face to face client-bank officer.

Even though this „stone-age“ way of banking persists - it has undergone a long way from being originally the first – to become the last and final contact point,” said the Postova Banka Deputy CEO in the presentation on how their company finds opportunities and new ways to communicate with the clients and to the public. He also elaborated on possible synergies available and benefits they offer.

The afternoon programme is split into two streams, Stream A focusing on multichannel strategies (Road ahead for retail banking: Multichannel strategies), Stream B at innovation and the advantages it will provide in the future (Innovation – Struggle of today, success of tomorrow).

As the first day will be coming to an end, both the delegates and speakers can look forward to day two, featuring three more keynotes from Mr. Mancinskis, Isabel Perez Gonzalez (Istanbul Gold Refinery, Turkey), Robert Wright (Raiffeisen Bank, Kosovo) and Daniel Melo (FICO EMEA, Spain). They will be followed by two s treamed afternoon: Inside & outside the branch and CRM & CEM – Excellence for our customer.

Source: flemingeurope.com