Česká spořitelna recognized for financial wellness initiatives

Digital Reinvention
25/03/2024Interview
profile picture of Veronika Nemcova

Veronika Nemcova

Ceska Sporitelna

Product owner

Česká spořitelna won bronze in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) category at the Qorus Reinvention Awards – Europe. Veronika Němcová, Product Owner at Česká spořitelna, tells us more about the project and her win in Vienna.


Can you introduce yourself and tell us more about your role at Česká spořitelna?

I'm Veronika Němcová and I am a product owner at Česká spořitelna (Erste). Together with my team, I am committed to developing solutions that prepare financially vulnerable clients for unexpected or challenging situations in life.

What made you most proud of the ‘State subsidies in a mobile banking app’ project? What was your greatest achievement in making it happen?

The state subsidies initiative in George was the very first project we embarked on to help vulnerable clients, and the topic wasn't exactly easy for us. We faced significant challenges, including finding a way to address non-banking topics that could assist our clients. We successfully negotiated with our compliance department and found a way to do it. We also collaborated with non-profit and government organizations to ensure the solution was truly beneficial and addressed the biggest client pain points. That's why I'm really proud that we managed to combine everything effectively in terms of time and costs, and get it to the clients quickly, which was our primary intention.

What’s the most important thing you would tell someone considering embarking on a similar project?

I would definitely recommend the aforementioned collaboration with experts who understand the field. For us, it was crucial to understand it ourselves and be able to bring a truly valuable solution for our clients. And also not to be afraid to think out-of-the-box, there is always a way to do this!

What's coming next for the ‘State subsidies in a mobile banking app’ project?

Due to our banking license, we can't assist clients in the final step of filling out forms, which are often complex. Therefore, we are negotiating with a third party to create an AI-based chatbot that could help clients with this and solve this complicated part for them.

What would you say to companies that might consider entering the 2024 Banking/Insurance Innovation Awards?

Definitely go for it! It's a great opportunity and a confirmation that the solutions you're working on make sense not just to your clients but are also appreciated by innovation experts.

What does this award mean to you and your innovation team?

As I've already mentioned, within the topic of vulnerable clients and in our team, this was the very first project, so the topic of state subsidies is very close to our hearts. This award is a confirmation that the direction we've taken is the right one, and it has given us even more motivation to go on!


Learn more about Česká spořitelna's winning innovations and the other winners of the Qorus Reinvention Awards - Europe 2024

Related news & insights

ESG
19/03/2025News

NTUC LearningHub launches Green Academy to support SMEs in sustainability transformation

NTUC LearningHub has officially launched the NTUC LHUB Green Academy, a new initiative aimed at promoting sustainability skills and workforce...

Insurance
17/03/2025Interview

At work with Bernardino Gómez Aritmendi

Bernardino Gómez Aritmendi, CEO of Bansabadell Vida, Bansabadell Seguros Generales and Bansabadell Pensiones, shares his insights and experience in a...

Digital Reinvention
17/03/2025News

Marygold & Co. introduces innovative financial app to simplify money management

The app aims to address long-standing inefficiencies in the banking system by integrating features that enhance financial control and simplify...

17/03/2025News

CaixaBank to train over 30,000 employees in senior customer service

CaixaBank has announced a large-scale training initiative to enhance customer service for elderly clients. More than 30,000 employees will undergo...

Digital Reinvention
17/03/2025News

ANZ Plus reaches one million customers, enhancing digital banking experience

More than half (55%) of its users now consider it their primary bank, and nearly half of those customers actively...

SME Banking
14/03/2025Video

Swedbank: Supporting SMEs in energy and mobility

Tomas Zimmermann, Senior Advisor – Group Sustainability at Swedbank, briefly presents the Swedish bank and its climate transition plan.

Digital Reinvention
14/03/2025News

Commonwealth Bank expands AI partnership with Anthropic

This collaboration is set to enhance CBA’s AI capabilities, aiming to improve customer experiences while maintaining a strong focus on...

Mobility
13/03/2025Article

AutoMobility Insights - March 2025 edition

This article offers snapshots of recent events, showing profound changes in the automotive ecosystem. We select snapshots that make these...