According to a K&H Bank survey of Hungarian corporate companies with net revenues above HUF 300 million, the corporate innovation index rose to 33 points in the first half of 2026, a historic high. The index increased by six points over six months as all four component subindices — digital, planned innovation, implemented innovation and innovation strategy — reached record levels.
The digital subindex climbed to 42 points, its highest value to date. The other three subindices also rose significantly, each increasing by between 3 and 8 points. K&H presented these results at a press briefing and said they reflect stronger corporate investment in digital and strategic innovation.
AI adoption and changing customer expectations
AI‑related developments showed a marked jump: projects tied to artificial intelligence increased from 24% to 36%, indicating rapid uptake. K&H noted that customer expectations are shifting faster than before, and users now expect the same seamless, fast and intelligent experiences from financial services as from other digital services.
The bank points out that customers do not actively seek out ecosystem solutions; instead they want services that respond to their everyday life situations and relieve them from tasks such as switching between multiple apps for purchases or administrative matters.
At the press briefing, Lóska Gergely, K&H’s head of IT and innovation, emphasized that AI‑based platforms and digital marketplaces increasingly anchor customer relationships. For this reason, the bank aims to offer relevant, life‑situation‑based solutions that provide added value at everyday decision points, helping to retain customer trust directly and over the long term.
Ecosystem approach and recent launches
K&H is developing services with an ecosystem approach. In mobility, for example, customers can access travel planning and car‑related financial and non‑financial services within a single digital experience — from planning and financing to payment and administration. Mobility ecosystem features include travel planning, purchase of tickets and passes, parking, motorway vignette purchase and a cost calculator related to buying used cars.
Recent innovations launched by K&H aim to deliver personalized benefits tailored to customers’ situations. These include the Kate Coin loyalty program, which has reached 40,000 registrations to date; the DÁP integrated into the mobile bank; the TBSZ product, nearly 1,000 of which were opened on mobile in under a month; mobile banking access for customers who have SZÉP cards but no bank account; and a dedicated virtual bank card for online payments with a separate account and flexible security settings.
Through the Start it @K&H program, the bank is actively building an innovation ecosystem in which ideas from domestic startups can develop into internationally competitive solutions, particularly in AI, mobility and healthcare.
Future direction
K&H’s stated goal is to continue building digital ecosystems that go beyond traditional banking and become an integral part of customers’ daily lives. The bank considers expanding innovation and AI applications essential to keeping customer trust and delivering relevant services over the long term.
