The Portfolio-organised Financial IT 2026 conference will take place on May 28 at the Marriott Hotel Budapest. The one-day event covers the banking sector’s key technological topics and challenges, from the spread and practical applications of artificial intelligence to fintech competition, payment trends and cybersecurity risks.
Why the event matters now
The conference arrives at a pivotal moment in the banking sector’s digital transformation: the so-called AI boom is producing business results beyond pilots, fintechs are gaining market share, and institutions face evolving regulatory and cyber risk pressures. The goal of the programme is to provide a forum for bank executives, IT decision-makers, consultants, fintech representatives and IT suppliers to exchange experience and views.
Format and highlights
Organisers have introduced new formats: three debate-style stage panels and two cross-section Vibe Coding Workshops. The agenda includes panel debates, technology deep dives, practical case studies and interactive workshops where participants can test AI tools on real banking use cases. The day concludes with a standing reception for continued discussions and networking.
Main sections and topics
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Section I: Fintech competition, digitalisation and the AI boom in banking — examining how incumbent banks respond to fintech challengers and which strategies accelerate digital transformation.
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Section II/A: AI and innovation in banks — focusing on agentic AI, new business use cases and the deeper implications of AI for banking; a roundtable will discuss whether AI has already disrupted banks and produced tangible outcomes.
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Section II/B: Technology deep dive — practical implementation, detailed use cases and case studies of digital transformation.
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Section III/A: Payment trends in Hungary — covering the evolution of the payments market, qvik adoption, card trends and payment sovereignty; the opening talk in this section is delivered by the Magyar Nemzeti Bank director on money flow trends and plans.
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Section III/B: Fraud and cybersecurity — addressing cyber threats and fraud, with special attention to the growing risks of AI‑based attacks.
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Section III/C: Vibe coding workshop (part 1) — an interactive session where attendees can implement a banking use case with AI tools.
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Section IV/A: Debate section — three debate panels cover the future of work under AI, fintechs versus banks in the Hungarian market, and the role of cryptocurrencies.
Selected speakers
The conference features a wide range of banking, fintech, technology and cybersecurity experts. Notable participants include:
- Sebők András, OTP Bank, Deputy CEO
- Vinnai Balázs, MBH Bank, IVSZ, Presidential Chief Adviser
- Harmati László, Erste Bank, Deputy CEO
- Jendrolovics Péter, Gránit Bank, Deputy CEO
- Márkus Gergely, Mastercard, Country Manager
- John Ford, Paymentology, Senior Technology Partner
- Horányi Gergő, Wise, Product Director
Speakers on AI and innovation panels include:
- Kaliszky András, Erste Bank Hungary, Deputy CEO responsible for IT and operations
- Prokop Péter, UNIQA Biztosító, Operations and Customer Management Director
- Vedran Bajer, Wonderful, General Manager Hungary, the Baltics and Adriatics
- Mátyás-Kollár Gabriella, Shiwaforce, Head of AI
Cybersecurity and fraud sessions feature contributors such as:
- dr. Borókai Bence, OTP Bank, Group-level Head of Cybersecurity
- Halász Viktor, National Bureau of Investigation (Nemzeti Nyomozó Iroda), Cybercrime Department expert
- Somkuti András, Netlock, CEO
- Weissmüller Gábor, Citi, EMEA CSIS IAU Head Lead Investigator
- Romics Attila, 4iG Informatikai, cybersecurity expert
Additional moderators, presenters and panelists appear across the programme; the organisers publish the full speaker list in the official programme.
Practical information
Financial IT 2026 is a one-day conference on May 28 at the Marriott Hotel Budapest aimed at banking professionals, fintech firms, IT suppliers, startups, consultants and regulators. The participation fee is 179,900 Ft + VAT. Registration and further details are available on the conference website.
Final note
The event combines strategic discussion with hands-on sessions on AI adoption, payment market developments and cyber defence, offering participants an opportunity to update their sector knowledge and expand their professional networks.
