You know that feeling when your paycheck finally hits your bank account? One minute, you’re cautiously checking your balance, and the next, you’re imagining all the things you could splurge on. That’s the beauty of digital banking—everything is instant, convenient, and right at your fingertips.
But banking wasn’t always like this. We’ve all been there, stuck on hold with customer service or wading through confusing online forms. Nowadays, banking is as simple as a swipe on your phone—a seamless experience that fits right into your daily life.
This is the world banks like Banca Comercială Română are building. BCR has been contributing to the way we bank for some time, and their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.
At the recent UNCHAIN Festival, BCR took home the title of Digital Bank of the Year, an accolade recognizing their relentless push for digital innovation across Central and Eastern Europe.
Growth and Innovation in The Market
For the past few years, BCR has focused on digitization, which has also brought them growth. They’ve been fine-tuning their mobile and internet platforms to make banking as effortless as scrolling through social media.
Fast forward to 2024, and BCR is still setting the pace. By March 31, 2024, their net customer loans were up by 7% from last year. They poured RON 3.1 billion into new loans for households and microenterprises, and let’s not forget the RON 2.8 billion in corporate loans, a good chunk of which is pushing new investments.
Mihai Sandu, Head of Digital Sales and Strategic Partnerships at BCR, highlighted the bank’s digital journey at the UNCHAIN Festival.
We started our digital endeavors and our digital journey more than ten years ago. George, our digital banking platform launched in 2015 in Romania, has since transformed how we interact with our customers.
Mihai Sandu
He emphasized that BCR has “digitized almost every type of interaction with our customers”and is now focused on bringing the same level of innovation to business banking.
Their digital platform, George, is more popular than ever, boasting 2.34 million users, with 1.9 million actively using the app—a 13% jump from the previous year.
They’re not just making loans easier to get – they’re making them digital-first, pushing towards a future where nearly everything happens online.
Digital Bank of the Year at UNCHAIN
When BCR was named Digital Bank of the Year at the UNCHAIN Festival, Mihai Sandu took the stage excitedly.
It’s always a pleasure and an honor to receive recognition for our efforts.
Mihai Sandu
Sandu highlighted the collective achievements of his team, saying:
This prize is actually on behalf of my colleagues from the cards division, the retail business division, and our digital laboratories. They’ve done an immense, wonderful job.
Mihai Sandu
VISA’s Cătălin Crețu, who presented the award, spoke passionately about the bank’s innovation, particularly the digital issuance and onboarding for business credit cards.
This is a completely digital process where a small business can get up to a 16,000-euro credit line without ever visiting a bank branch.
Cătălin Crețu
Cătălin emphasized the revolutionary nature of this service, noting how it simplifies access to finance for small businesses, which he described as “a segment that has been kind of neglected.“
What’s on the Horizon?
As for the future, BCR’s roadmap is ambitious and focused on change. For them, banking shouldn’t be a luxury. That’s why they’re pushing to open doors for people who’ve been shut out—especially in rural areas and among those who don’t usually see a bank as an option.
Then, there’s the digital side. We’re all attached to our phones like they’re lifelines, and BCR is turning that into a strength. They’re doubling down on digitization—making sure you can do everything from your screen, faster and simpler than ever.
Reflecting on the journey and future aspirations, Sandu said:
We’re happy to hold this award, and hopefully, we’ll continue to receive such recognition in the years to come.
Mihai Sandu
BCR is committed to responsible banking, which isn’t just a buzzword to them. It means being honest about lending, being smart about risks, and ensuring that everyone’s playing by the rules.
For the time being, the bank is planning to be a leader not just in size but in ethics and innovation. Only time will tell how that future will play out.
