This summer, Oradea Fortress will host the 5th edition of UNCHAIN Festival (on 17–18 June 2026), a high-level finance summit bringing together over 900 senior leaders and decision-makers from more than 40 countries, including financial institutions, regulators, technology providers, and industry leaders.

Marking its anniversary edition as the premier summit of CEE, UNCHAIN Festival 2026 is honoured to welcome as Keynote Speaker Prof. Marek Belka, former Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Poland—a leading voice at the intersection of economics and public policy, and an economist with a distinguished career spanning academia, government, and international institutions. Over the course of his career, he has held a series of influential international roles, including Head of Economic Policy in Iraq’s Coalition Provisional Authority, Executive Secretary of the UNECE, and Director of the European Department at the IMF, before going on to serve as President of the National Bank of Poland and later as a Member of the European Parliament.

He will be joined by prominent officials and central bank governors from across Central and Eastern Europe, as well as key decision-makers from private and international financial institutions, including the European Commission, the European Banking Authority, and regulatory bodies from Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Moldova, and the Czech Republic.

By fostering high-level dialogue and cross-border collaboration on the most pressing issues shaping the future of finance in the region, the UNCHAIN Festival reinforces its position as the premier summit for decision-makers in banking, fintech, insurance, and technology across Central and Eastern Europe.

The agenda will address key topics including the digital euro (Europe’s upcoming CBDC aimed at modernising payments and preserving monetary sovereignty), the European Unique Identifier (EUID) for streamlined cross-border KYC and verification, cybersecurity and operational resilience under DORA, AI governance and its responsible applications in banking, instant payments (SEPA SCT Inst), asset tokenisation using DLT to enhance capital market efficiency, and the evolving open finance framework under PSD3 to drive innovation and competition.

A dedicated section of the UNCHAIN Festival will spotlight the region’s most dynamic ecosystems, showcasing top disruptors and innovative companies driving transformation across financial services. This initiative is designed to give early-stage and stage disruptors a prominent platform to present regional business opportunities, innovation frameworks, and cutting-edge solutions poised to redefine the financial landscape.

Applications are open until May 15th via https://unchainfestival.com/startups/ inviting the most ambitious innovators to step forward and take part in shaping the future of finance on a regional stage.

Under this initiative, a carefully selected group of companies representing countries from across Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics will take the stage to share their national perspectives on the future of finance and the disruptive technologies shaping the industry.

“UNCHAIN Festival was created as a platform for meaningful dialogue among financial industry leaders, and the 2026 edition marks a significant step in shaping the future of finance in the region. With our new initiative spotlighting top disruptors from across CEE and the Baltics, we aim to elevate national perspectives and connect ecosystems that can collaborate to accelerate innovation,” said Alexandra Pollack, Founder and CEO at UNCHAIN.

Continuing its annual tradition, UNCHAIN Festival 2026 will recognize excellence in financial services and technology, presenting awards to the most outstanding disruptors and innovators from Central and Eastern Europe.

All of this is made possible thanks to the essential support of key players in the fintech ecosystem, such as Visa—the event’s Main Partner—along with Raiffeisen Bank Romania, BRD Groupe Société Générale, and Banca Transilvania as Banking Partners, Payten Romania as Gold Partner. The event’s sponsors, who support innovation in the CEE region, are Garanti BBVA, fme Romania, SurePay, Worldline, Profile Software, Axe Finance, TSYS, Finshape, Namirial, CMS Cameron McKenna, and VeritaHR.

CEE finance leaders return to the UNCHAIN Festival each year. Early Bird tickets offering a 30% discount are available at https://unchainfestival.com/tickets/ for a limited period of time until April 22nd. Prices will increase after this date.

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Prof. Marek Belka – Biography

Prof. Marek Belka (1952) is an economist with a distinguished career in academia, government, and international institutions. He has been affiliated with the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of Łódź for most of his career and has held research fellowships at Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and the London School of Economics.

He twice served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (1997; 2001–2002) and was Prime Minister of Poland from 2004 to 2005. His international roles include leading economic policy in Iraq’s Coalition Provisional Authority (2003–2004), serving as Executive Secretary of UNECE (2006–2008), and heading the European Department at the IMF (2008–2010). He was President of the National Bank of Poland (2010–2016) and a Member of the European Parliament (2019–2024).

In 2024, he was appointed Chair of the Audit Board of the Ukraine Facility, overseeing financial support for Ukraine’s recovery.

About UNCHAIN Festival

UNCHAIN Festival is the leading finance and technology summit in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 2022, it has connected banks, fintechs, regulators, and industry leaders in Oradea, Romania, fostering cross-industry collaboration and turning emerging trends into actionable strategies for regional growth and resilience.

Over the past five years, the financial ecosystem across Central and Eastern Europe has undergone a quiet but profound transformation. What began as an urgent push for digitisation has evolved into a deeper reconfiguration of how finance is built, distributed, and experienced, from the unbundling of legacy banking infrastructure and the rise of embedded finance to the convergence of payments, credit, loyalty, and data-driven decision-making.

Insights gathered across previous editions of UNCHAIN Festival and distilled in its sector whitepapers point to a clear direction: finance in CEE is no longer defined by isolated products or institutions, but by ecosystems. Banks are navigating legacy “spaghetti” infrastructures while experimenting with parallel core systems and AI-driven internal automation. Retailers are moving beyond transactions toward experience-first models where payments, lending, and loyalty blend seamlessly into the customer journey. Meanwhile, fintechs are no longer challengers at the edges, but integral players shaping interfaces, expectations, and speed.

Against this backdrop, UNCHAIN Festival returns to Oradea on 17–18 June 2026, offering unparalleled networking opportunities, exclusive industry insights, and strategic connections for over 800 senior leaders and decision-makers from more than 40 countries. This event marks its 5th anniversary and has evolved into a comprehensive platform that connects financial institutions, regulators, technology providers, and industry leaders at a time when alignment has become a strategic necessity.

“During the first four years of the UNCHAIN Festival, we have seen a lot of international cooperation and merchant integration. Technology combines various verticals even more closely. Many non-banks are now entering the financial services market by offering embedded finance options or loyalty/crypto products to their customers. There are many challenges with regulation, but this is exactly why we’re bringing everybody to the same table – so law can keep up with innovation, and vice versa. Technology adoption, as in digital-first and customer-vertically specialized, continues to develop. Neobanks, digital brokers are getting more and more prolific,” says David Pollack, Managing Partner at UNCHAIN.

From Fintech Disruption to Financial Integration

As geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory pressure, and economic fragmentation continue to test Europe’s resilience, UNCHAIN 2026 positions itself at the intersection of these forces, fostering dialogue around regional integration, trust, and execution. The event aligns with the emerging EU Inc. vision and aims to strengthen Europe’s internal economic cohesion, making it a vital platform for stakeholders committed to regional resilience and innovation.

In its fifth year, UNCHAIN reflects the maturity of the ecosystem it serves. Fintech is no longer a vertical; it is embedded across banking, payments, retail, mobility, and public infrastructure. The 2026 agenda will cover critical topics such as programmable capital markets, embedded financial models beyond checkout, hybrid digital–human banking experiences, and the role of AI as an internal efficiency engine rather than a blunt customer-facing tool.

These discussions build directly on patterns observed over time at UNCHAIN: banks seeking clarity over ownership versus partnership, merchants pushing back against outdated loyalty and cashback mechanics, and regulators grappling with frameworks designed for a world that no longer exists.

Industry Voices on Innovation and Regulation

Erik Barna, Co-Founder of FaraGrija.ro, highlights the growing exchange between banking and insurance: “Insurance is the smallest brother of banking. Instead of borrowing from insurance, banking can inspire innovation in insurtech. Directives like PSD2 boosted fintech startups; we need something similar for insurance.”

Similarly, regulators are navigating new challenges at the intersection of data, AI, and innovation. Ivana Jolic, Director at the Croatian National Bank, explains: “Credit risk AI needs vast data, but GDPR restricts usage. We must find a balance for keeping systems safe while fostering innovation.”

Michal Vodrážka of the Czech National Bank adds: “Instant payments should be the norm without over-reliance on law. We focus on improving existing infrastructure while monitoring developments like the digital euro.”

From the merchant perspective, Ciprian Pîrv, Country Managing Director at Payten, observes: “Merchants want seamless payment methods that are stable and error-free. Innovation drives adoption when it delivers direct benefits and competitive advantage.”

Scale, Continuity, and Regional Relevance

What started as a 350-delegate gathering has grown into one of the most influential financial platforms in the region. Across its previous editions, UNCHAIN has brought together well over 2,000 participants, creating a cumulative, cross-border community of decision-makers shaping the future of finance in CEE.

With approximately 75% of attendees from the financial sector, UNCHAIN has become a reference platform for meaningful, outcome-driven conversations that can shape how finance is understood in CEE.

“The fifth anniversary represents more than just a chronological milestone; it marks a fundamental shift in our regional impact.

We are moving beyond the ‘fintech’ label because the challenges of 2026 — liquidity, credit access, and risk management — require a unified ‘Finance’ front. By transitioning from the ‘Fintech Fortress’ to the Finance Fortress, we are inviting the entire spectrum of the financial industry to Oradea to ensure that CEE remains a cohesive, innovative, and resilient economic bloc within the European Union. EU Inc. will definitely be a big topic this year at UNCHAIN“, says David Pollack, Managing Partner at UNCHAIN. 

Reflecting on the momentum behind the 2026 edition, Eliad Saporta, Founder & CEO of Coriunder and long-time UNCHAIN contributor, notes: “What we are seeing across banking and payments is not a race for the next shiny feature, but a recalibration of roles. In 2026, the real competitive advantage will come from institutions that understand context, knowing when to automate, when to intervene, and how to stay visible in the moments that matter most to customers. This is exactly the type of conversation UNCHAIN.”

Mr. Saporta’s contribution at UNCHAIN 2026 will further explore how infrastructure choices, AI governance, and embedded finance models are reshaping short- and medium-term strategies across Europe’s financial institutions.

A Platform for Connection and Execution

Hosted within the historic Oradea Fortress, UNCHAIN 2026 continues to combine strategic content with a highly curated networking environment, offering brands and institutions full exposure to the CEE market in a single setting. The event brings together private-sector leaders alongside central banks, regulators, and global networks such as Visa, reinforcing its role as a bridge between policy, innovation, and real-world execution.

As Central and Eastern Europe moves from catching up to actively shaping Europe’s financial future, UNCHAIN Festival stands as the place where that future is debated, challenged, and built.

Tickets and Registration

Hundreds of finance leaders keep coming back to Unchain each year. This year, they have the chance to access Super Early Bird tickets for UNCHAIN Festival 2026 now available for a limited period of time, offering a 50% discount until January 31st  https://unchainfestival.com/tickets/. After this period, prices will increase.

At UNCHAIN, the fortress is just the setting. The real story is the people. Finance Legends is a series that highlights the people shaping finance in Central and Eastern Europe. Each edition focuses on a leader whose work influences how banks, fintechs, and regulators think and act. This time, that spotlight is on Rik Coeckelbergs, a voice that has become familiar across Europe for bringing bankers and innovators together and keeping questions of trust and values at the centre of the conversation.

Rik Coeckelbergs has spent the past decade turning conversations about banking into a career. Known across Europe as a moderator, writer, and community builder, he usually asks the questions that others tend to avoid. With his latest book, A New Ethos in Banking, he’s pushed the debate even further, challenging banks to look beyond quarterly results and reconnect with the values that once defined them. In a time when the industry is still trying to balance digital speed with human trust, Rik has become one of the voices reminding us that finance is, at its core, about people.

You’ve spent years observing and moderating conversations across Europe’s banking scene. What’s the biggest shift you’ve noticed in how banks approach their role in society?

It’s fascinating how banks have approached their role in society, because it often mirrors how society views them. After the global financial crisis and the digital shake-up that followed, banks were on the defensive. They were seen as greedy, slow, and out of touch — bailed out by the public but not giving much back. Whether or not that was fair, it shaped how people looked at them, and banks had to carry that perception.

Between those years of playing defence, there was another challenge. As Rik points out, banks had to accept their position as “semi-public institutions.” That meant more than balancing the books. It meant financing the economy to keep jobs alive, investing in the green transition, and pouring money into digital projects. That had to happen while making sure those who struggled with new technology weren’t left behind.

Do you feel like that perception is finally changing?

What I now observe is that banks are gradually recovering from this negative perception, after twenty years, and are adopting a more proactive societal role. Banks are resisting non-productive regulations, recognising the digital divide, and launching initiatives to keep every consumer engaged.

And what about sustainability? That’s become a defining part of banks’ responsibilities.

We can’t ignore it. Sustainability has evolved alongside geopolitics, with investments in the defence industry serving as a striking example. This used to be a clear “no” for many institutions when defining ESG safe investments; today, the landscape has changed significantly.

After years of moderating conversations, Rik decided to capture some of those ideas in writing. What began as a series of events around “ethos in banking” grew into a book that pushes the debate further, asking banks to reconnect with values that go beyond short-term performance.

Your latest book, A New Ethos in Banking: Embracing Values and Ethics for a Meaningful Transformation, explores values in the financial sector. What inspired you to write it now, and what response has surprised you the most so far?

Back in 2023, we organised three events centred on “Ethos in Banking,” where numerous CEOs and other executives shared their interpretations of ethos and their visions of its significance for the industry. It was fresh and presented banking within a context I had not encountered before. That is why I wanted to continue that dialogue through a series of interviews, which eventually culminated in the book now available worldwide.

From my observations, the banking industry has somewhat lost its original character by merely copying successful strategies from others. The book is not primarily about ethics but about translating a bank’s ethical principles into its daily operations and transformation efforts, whether that involves digital innovation, sustainable practices, or other forms of change.

Beyond the events that inspired it, Rik describes the book as a call to action, a push for banks to bring their identity and values back into the heart of transformation. That message has resonated. Readers have praised the work for putting trust and social contracts at the centre of banking’s future, and for highlighting the intersection of ethics, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership.

When you talk about an ‘ethos’ in banking, what does that mean in practice for a traditional bank trying to modernise?

Embracing an ethos in banking means going beyond digital transformation to embed a deep, values-driven culture across the institution. For a traditional bank, it’s about reconnecting with its foundational purpose: helping customers and communities thrive, not just processing transactions or selling products.

In practice, this starts by articulating a clear long-term mission, one that resonates internally and externally. Ethos demands a shift from quarterly performance to generational relevance, anchored in trust, empathy, and responsibility. 

And what role does technology play in this?

Critically, an ethos-driven transformation humanises technology. Digital banking often failed to connect with customers emotionally. Banks must now infuse empathy into design, ensuring services are inclusive and meaningful, particularly for vulnerable groups.

That requires leadership to set the tone, right?

Leadership plays a crucial role. Ethos isn’t about slogans but about behaviour, especially when no one is watching. As Cor Herkströter put it, “principles that change every year become worthless for employees.” Consistency in values through leadership transitions is essential. 

Ethos also changes how banks think about compliance. It’s not enough to tick boxes. The shift is from doing only what is legally allowed to doing what is right. Rik stresses that “For traditional banks, modernisation with ethos is not optional. It’s how they remain trusted, human, and meaningful in a digital world.”

Through The Banking Scene, you’ve built a strong community around banking innovation. What’s one lesson you’ve learned from curating all those dialogues?

All these people act with the best intentions within their own context. Often, changing a bank is less about the individuals and more about the environment they operate in, whether that is culture, leadership, work methods or the bank’s identity, in short: its ethos.

That also means the same question will spark very different answers, depending on the bank. For Rik, this diversity is what makes real change possible. The Banking Scene is a platform for people to share their stories to help others re-evaluate the status quo.

Have you noticed differences between smaller and larger banks?

Yes. Smaller banks are often modest in taking the stage, although they are often the heroes that successfully drive change with much fewer resources, and remain a relevant competitor for the big players. That is often underestimated in my opinion. They may innovate less, but be much more focused on developing the right services.

Looking ahead, Rik suggests the bigger challenge is not just about the size of institutions, but about their relevance. It’s a theme he’s already planning to put at the centre of The Banking Scene’s 2025 agenda, and it connects to questions of technology, risk, and even sustainability.

What do you see as the next big conversation the industry isn’t having yet, but should be?

Anything from digital transformation to societal and economic relevance in a world that seems to be embracing some aspects of the free banking era again, with the rise of stablecoins. I’m not just talking about payments, but also the impact of stablecoins on banks’ credit policies, etc.

The relevance of banks is also being challenged in fraud prevention. The rise of AI is completely reshaping how fraud is committed and how it should be countered. What should banks do here? The same applies to the responsible use of AI, not only within banks but also in interactions with the outside world. What happens when I start using an AI agent to manage my finances, and what is the role of a bank in that context? 

Sustainability is part of that same conversation. As Rik points out, climate change already leaves a mark on the balance sheets of banks and insurers. The question is how much further the sector should go in keeping responsibility high on the agenda, and in pushing society to act on it.

Against that backdrop of relevance, risk, and responsibility, it’s no surprise that the events Rik values most are the ones that open space for honest dialogue, events like UNCHAIN.

You’ve been to countless fintech events. What stood out to you about UNCHAIN?

What made UNCHAIN different was that it really felt like a festival, not just another conference. Beyond the panels, there were informal moments – pre-drinks, the evening concert, even a city tour — that created space for genuine dialogue. The setting, a fortress in Romania at the crossroads of Eastern Europe, gave it a distinctive energy, and the organisation was seamless. It brought together regulators, banks, and innovators in a way that felt open and collaborative.

That mix of structured debate and informal exchange is exactly what Rik has tried to foster throughout his own work. He never approached banking as just numbers and regulations. Through his activities (from moderating debates to writing about values and ethos), he’s shown that finance is inseparable from the society it serves. The Banking Scene has become his way of keeping that dialogue alive, drawing together voices from across Europe to ask what relevance, trust, and responsibility really mean in 2025.

At a time when the industry is reshaped by AI, sustainability pressures, and shifting geopolitics, Rik’s message is a reminder that banks are more than institutions. They are part of the social fabric, and their future depends on whether they can stay human while adapting to change.

Key Requirements

• ATMs and Payment Terminals: Must be usable by people with disabilities.
• Online Banking: Websites and mobile apps must comply with accessibility standards.
• Customer Service: Support services must cater to the needs of individuals with impairments.

Banks will need to adapt their physical and digital infrastructures to meet these requirements. This includes training staff, updating software, and potentially redesigning ATMs and terminals. The act is expected to significantly improve the banking experience for millions of EU citizens, ensuring they can perform transactions independently and securely.

Bank employees must be trained on the needs of individuals with disabilities and how to provide appropriate assistance. This includes understanding available accessibility features and how to use them. Banks must review and adapt internal procedures to ensure all services and products are accessible, updating existing infrastructure and implementing new technologies. It is crucial for banks to implement monitoring mechanisms to ensure accessibility measures are effective and comply with legislation.

Nicu Enache, digital transformation consultant at OceanoBe Technology.

While the transition may pose challenges, it also presents opportunities for banks to innovate and enhance their service offerings. Investing in accessible technology can improve customer satisfaction and broaden the customer base.

The European Accessibility Act represents a major step towards inclusivity in the banking sector. By June 2025, all banks operating in the EU must ensure their services are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities.

This move, endorsed by the European Payments Council, combines SEPA Instant Credit Transfers (SCT Inst) with open banking, finalizing the puzzle pieces for an open, pan-European payment method.

Joe Morley, EU CEO and General Manager of TrueLayer, shared insights on how SPAA is set to invigorate the European open banking ecosystem. The scheme’s financial model encourages banks to monetize APIs and collaborate with fintechs to develop advanced, digitally native account-to-account payment services. This approach is a significant departure from the PSD2, which many banks viewed merely as a compliance requirement, limiting their drive to expand beyond basic open banking services.

New Features and Future Expectations

One of the SPAA scheme’s most intriguing features for both scheme participants and end-users is Dynamic Recurring Payments (DRP). This feature enables customers to establish recurring payments with variable parameters, promising a broad range of new use cases and simplifying the online checkout process. Additionally, the Payment Certainty Mechanism introduced by SPAA could enhance in-store open banking payments by assuring merchants of immediate fund transfer guarantees.

Looking forward, the combination of widespread instant credit transfers and open banking, facilitated by the SPAA scheme, presents a clear path towards an open and sustainable European payment method. With demand from Third Party Providers (TPPs) and their merchant clients already evident, the scheme’s successful implementation could see the first SPAA transactions by as early as 2025, signaling a significant shift in the European payment landscape.

A Race Against Time

Banks have been given a deadline of April 8 to get their gears turning, with the full compliance date breathing down their necks on January 9, 2025. It’s all about being able to handle instant credit transfers in euros, and the clock is already ticking loudly. 

The EU is not just about speeding up payments – it’s a strategic play to boost the European economic and financial sector’s independence, reducing the reliance on big names like Visa and Mastercard, and by extension, enhancing the stability and sovereignty of Europe’s financial system.

Craig Ramsey, Global Head of Real-Time Payments at ACI Worldwide, calls it unprecedented in scale and speed. The financial institutions across the EU are now tasked with an incredibly rapid adaptation, a challenge that’s as colossal as it is critical. The sector’s being nudged (okay, pushed) to prioritize this massive change, highlighting the EU’s determination to fortify its financial autonomy.