Cyberattacks on financial institutions have continued to rise in both frequency and impact over the past year. For a long time, banks and companies offering similar services have been prime targets for cybercriminals. Just last year, the industry witnessed dozens of cases of major data and asset losses. For this reason, investments in cybersecurity have never been higher.
Leading consulting and research firms predict that cybersecurity investments in FinTech will grow from tens to hundreds of billions of euros over the next five years. Today, three out of four banks worldwide use artificial intelligence to detect transaction anomalies in real time and identify attackers before they can cause harm. In addition to AI, industry experts have high hopes for blockchain technology as a tool for enhancing security and transparency.
The European Union is actively working on implementing the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which will introduce stricter cybersecurity standards for all participants in the financial ecosystem starting this year. At the same time, the NIS2 directive additionally expands cybersecurity obligations by imposing stricter data protection and incident response requirements – not just for financial institutions but also for a broad range of other critical sectors.
To address these challenges and ensure system resilience, FinTech leaders, regulators, and security experts are gathering at the Money Motion conference organized in collaboration with leading regional brands ASEE, Monri, Mastercard, OTP banka, A1 Hrvatska, Croatia osiguranje, and LAQO. The conference will take place on March 27–28 at the Zagreb Fair.
We asked top experts from three different FinTech domains – banking, payment processing, and cybersecurity – how they tackle cyber threats and what they expect from the conference.
Péter Csányi, Member of the Board of Directors of OTP Group, talking about leading tech challenges for banks with during Money Motion 2024
It is clear to OTP Group that cybersecurity has become the foundation of financial industry stability and client trust in today’s dynamic digital environment. From sophisticated threats and growing regulatory requirements to the complexity of the systems they manage, the bank is well aware of the key challenges facing the industry. That’s why OTP continuously invests in state-of-the-art security technologies, strengthens the protection of sensitive data, and collaborates with regulators and experts to uphold the highest security standards.
A particular focus, says Balázs Békeffy, CEO of OTP banka, is on artificial intelligence, which brings both opportunities and challenges in protecting financial transactions and personal data.
“AI enables faster and more accurate threat detection and automated responses to potential attacks, but it requires responsible management to ensure transparency and ethical application. OTP banka remains committed to innovation and the development of security solutions that provide reliable and secure digital banking for our clients. Our strategy is based on continuously improving technology, strengthening expert teams, and partnering with key stakeholders to build a secure future for the financial industry together.”
Balázs Békeffy has participated in both Money Motion panels with leading Croatian banks: in 2023 and 2024.
Experts often emphasize a broader societal issue – the shortage of cybersecurity professionals, as well as a lack of education and employee engagement in detecting, preventing, and responding to cyber threats in a timely manner.
“While AI and decentralized finance are transforming the industry, we are simultaneously witnessing a continuous rise in cyber threats. This environment requires technological innovation, broader access to cybersecurity solutions, and a stronger approach to data protection through advanced defense systems against increasingly AI-driven cyberattacks. Education and awareness – both among users and professionals – are becoming key factors in this process. A sustainable and secure FinTech ecosystem can only be built through continuous learning and proactive engagement from all stakeholders. Platforms like the Money Motion conference play a vital role in fostering idea exchange, joint education, and better preparation for digital risks,” said Željka Jurić, Product Manager at ASEE.
