BEKB has already adjusted to structural changes in banking by rebuilding its branch network. But Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter, the chairwoman, has further going plans for the digital transformation of the regional bank.
Over the past years, Berner Kantonalbank (BEKB), one of Switzerland’s largest cantonal banks, reacted to the change in demand from its customers by rebuilding the branches. Instead of the traditional counter-based high-street branch model, BEKB today tries to attract customers with offices in the shape of inviting meeting zones.
In a next step, Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter, BEKB’s chairwoman and former CEO of the Swiss exchange, will now tackle the digital transformation of the business, she told «Schweizeraktien.net» in an interview.
Digital Transformation Unit
The bank has established a digital transformation unit to take the lead in the structural adjustment process. The group will coordinate digitization measures, survey the developments in the financial market and among rivals as well as implement promising projects.
BEKB also mulls potential cooperation with other companies. «For us, projects are of interest that provide a concrete service to the client,» she told «Schweizeraktien.net».
Software Development an Option
The bank may also develop its own software solutions and sell licenses to other banking institutes. Swiss cantonal banks have more or less close links with each other.
Hunziker-Ebneter expects the development of the core-banking system to be a major challenge as it has to comply with aspects ranging from modularity, regulatory demands, stability and security issues and also provide open interfaces.
Multitude of Digital Challenges
«In addition to that, there’s the further development toward the platform bank and the bank as an eco-system,» the chairwoman of BEKB said. «Global trends such as big data, artificial intelligence, robots as well as virtual and augmented reality are confronting the providers of core-banking solutions with enormous challenges.» The bank currently was engaged in a strategic discussion about the further direction of the business regarding these issues.
