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.
European innovation excellence in the spotlight at the Qorus Reinvention Awards in Vienna
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
