Oradea, Romania: 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 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.
PastPay wins the UNCHAIN Startups Tournament
PastPay (pastpay.com) emerged victorious, receiving the much sought-after Oscar of CEE Fintech. This award highlights the startup’s innovative solutions and its potential to make a significant impact in the fintech sector. The recognition provides a platform for emerging fintech companies to showcase their ideas and gain acknowledgment from industry leaders and investors.
“We are extremely proud that the jury at Unchain honoured our B2B BNPL solution with the first prize. The entire event surpassed all our expectations with top quality speakers and participants. Looking forward to next year!”, stated Benjamin Berényi, CEO & Co-founder at PastPay.
PastPay revolutionises business transactions by offering merchants instant revenue and enabling them to offer flexible payment terms to their business customers. With features like automated risk management, seamless integration and APIs, and multi-currency support for international transactions, PastPay enhances cash flow, boosts sales, and improves the overall payment experience. Currently, over 170 B2B merchants offer their customers PastPay as a payment method.
Supported by regional financial innovators
The success of the event was made possible with the support of numerous partners: Visa, the event’s Main Partner; banking partners, including Banca Comerciala Romana, Raiffeisen Bank Romania, and Banca Transilvania; regtech partners such as Forvis Mazars and Evrotrust; technology partners represented by Google Cloud, InfoCert, and Payten and sponsors such as CitiBank, Garanti BBVA, CMS Cameron McKenna, SIBS, Amazon Web Services, Global Payments, Finshape, Transfond, Evam, Kriptomat, and Verita HR.
Hosted by Visit Oradea and Make IT in Oradea, and supported by logistic partners such as Nazzuro, Autonom, Alchemico, Ford Carbenta Com, Mobexpert, Darabont Family Winery, and Digi, UNCHAIN provided a unique opportunity to be part of a transformative community.
Blind bird tickets on sale for 2025 edition
In anticipation of next year’s event, the UNCHAIN Fintech Festival has announced the sale of blind bird tickets for the fourth edition at a 50% discount. This limited-time offer provides an excellent opportunity for early registrants to secure their participation at a reduced rate. Delegates can take advantage of this discount to ensure their place at the forefront of fintech innovation and networking.
For more details and to purchase tickets, visit: https://unchainfestival.com/tickets/.
About UNCHAIN Fintech Festival
UNCHAIN Fintech Festival is an annual event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from the fintech sector. The festival features keynote speeches, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and showcases of cutting-edge technologies. It serves as a hub for collaboration and the exchange of ideas, driving the future of financial technology.
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