500+ delegates from over 40 countries gathered at the 3rd edition of UNCHAIN Fintech Festival

The UNCHAIN Fintech Festival, held on June 19-20 at the Fintech Fortress, recently concluded its two-day financial marathon. The event featured several notable highlights, including signing of the latest book by Chris Skinner, signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Romanian Fintech Association and the Polish Fintech Association, and the recognition of outstanding achievements in the industry.

For the past three years, Oradea (Nagyvárad, Romania) has emerged as the epicentre of financial services in Central and Eastern Europe, attracting over 500 delegates from around the globe each year. The two-day event features the hottest topics in finance, business networking, startup pitches, roundtables, interviews with key voices in the CEE, parties, and more. It brought together representatives from 6 central banks, over 170 commercial banks and financial institutions, more than 200 fintech and technology providers, and 80+ ecosystem players, academia, and media.

The “hot” agenda of UNCHAIN

The festival provided a comprehensive platform for exploring cutting-edge developments in regulation, digital banking transformation, AI in finance, open banking, neobanking, payments 3.0, digital assets, insurtech, regtech, sustainability in finance, and many other pivotal topics. Over the course of two days, more than 70 esteemed speakers from around the globe shared their invaluable insights and expertise, contributing to a rich tapestry of knowledge and innovation.

One of the standout themes was payment innovation, which sparked engaging discussions and revealed groundbreaking advancements set to redefine the industry. The transformative role of AI in finance also took centre stage, with experts delving into how artificial intelligence is revolutionising financial services. Regulation was another critical topic, with sessions dedicated to understanding the evolving regulatory landscape and its implications for the fintech sector.

Chris Skinner, keynote speech and book signing

Renowned author and fintech expert Chris Skinner captivated attendees with a special keynote and an exclusive book signing session for his latest book, Intelligent Money. Skinner, known for his influential works on the future of banking and finance, engaged with festival participants, offering insights and autographed copies of his new book. This session provided a unique opportunity for fintech enthusiasts to interact with one of the industry’s leading thought leaders.

MOU signing between Romanian and Polish Fintech Association

A significant milestone was achieved with the signing of an MOU between the Romanian Fintech Association and the Polish Fintech Association. This strategic partnership aims to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint initiatives between the fintech ecosystems of both countries. The agreement signifies a commitment to driving innovation and growth within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) fintech landscape.

Banca Comerciala Romana named the best CEE Digital Bank

Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) was honoured with the prestigious CEE Digital Bank of the Year Award, presented by VISA. This nomination recognizes BCR’s exceptional digital transformation efforts, innovative banking solutions, and customer-centric approach. The bank’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance the banking experience has set a benchmark for the industry.

“Digital Bank of the Year is, first and foremost, about industry recognition. It is also about our continuous efforts to provide customers with a smart, simple, fast, and secure banking experience. And that says it all about George, BCR’s digital banking platform, which is currently a complete tool for managing personal financial life as well as business, supporting partnerships with technology and service companies. With George, we have managed to achieve the most digital firsts in the Romanian banking market, with more than 300 features introduced since its launch, and we will continue to use technology to develop the ecosystem of solutions for smart financial choices,” said Mihai Sandu, Head of Digital Sales & Strategic Partnerships, Banca Comerciala Romana.