Hungary
Hungarian and Central European stories: domestic companies, institutions, surveys, regulation and professional developments.
Viewpoint
November 2026 · 8
Gránit Bank's digital banking and AI expertise to be built into university teachingbanking professionalThrough an education partnership, the bank is building a future workforce with AI skills.Gránit Bank: customers increasingly open to banking AI for managing spendingretail customerThe bank's AI assistant can be used in the mobile banking app to review spending.banking professionalCustomers' spending-analysis questions show the main use case of a bank's AI assistant.Visa expert: bank AI projects rarely fail because of the modelbanking professionalFactors outside the model, such as embedding in processes and the organisation, decide whether an AI project succeeds.chief financial officerInvestment decisions should weigh the conditions for rollout as well as the model itself.Visa research: how banks in Central and Eastern Europe use AIbanking professionalData on regional banks' AI use provides a benchmark for one's own rollout plan.OTP: fraudsters take an average of HUF 1.4 million per victim, and AI heightens the threatretail customerFlawless Hungarian text no longer proves a message is genuine, so requests must be verified through an official channel.banking professionalIn customer communication, customers must be prepared for AI-perfected phishing.Hungarian-founded Zocks named to CB Insights Fintech 100 listfintech companyA Hungarian-founded AI fintech has entered an international ranking, a benchmark for the Hungarian fintech ecosystem.banking professionalAdviser assistants speed up the administration of investment advice.MVM builds an AI-driven finance operating model with SAPchief financial officerFor large-company finance processes, an SAP-based AI transformation offers a domestic reference.accountantAutomating finance processes may also change accountants' tasks.What does an AI lawyer have to do with bookkeeping? A Hungarian trade articleaccountantThe legal aspects of AI use also arise in accounting practice.
October 2026 · 32
AI could help Hungarian businesses find the right financing, says noticechief financial officerWhen searching for financing options, the output of an AI tool must be checked independently.Central and Eastern European banks, including Hungarian ones, catch up on AI usebanking professionalAI applications in lending and cybersecurity are the main areas where regional banks have ground to make up.retail customerThe role of AI in customer service is also expanding in Hungarian banking.48% of Hungarians use AI for finance or insurance questions but choose humans for big decisionsretail customerAI works well for getting information, but according to the survey human advice remains the established route for major financial decisions.banking professionalAlongside AI-supported information, customers should also be offered access to human advice.insurerCustomers' use of AI for research also affects sales processes.Hungary's central bank examines AI strategies at banks: plenty of risk, few peoplebanking professionalAn AI strategy should also document the level of expertise and human oversight.K&H turns to conversational banking and presents its Kate assistantretail customerBanking tasks may be handled through conversation instead of menus.banking professionalA conversational interface is reshaping the division of work between digital channels and customer service.Hungarian trade press: AI is rewriting the roles of finance professionals and executiveschief financial officerBeyond traditional tasks, the finance executive's role is shifting toward technology investment and strategic decisions.banking professionalModelling and data skills are becoming more valuable.Mastercard's Hungarian expert: by 2030 the AI agent pays and the token verifiesbanking professionalIn payment and card products, it is worth preparing token-based agentic authentication.retail customerFor agent-led shopping, consent and spending limits must be set in advance.Erste reports nearly 21,000 fraud attempts against its customers in six monthsretail customerNever follow links or requests in phishing messages; verify them in the bank's own app or online banking.banking professionalFraud-prevention communication should also target farmers and small business owners.Hungary's tax authority plans AI selection of risky invoices in real time in 2026, accountant saysaccountantThe accuracy and consistency of invoice data come to the fore, because AI screening can flag discrepancies in real time.chief financial officerThe quality of company invoicing data and the handling of risk flags should be sorted out in advance.48% of Hungarians use AI for financial questions but seek human advice on big decisionsretail customerAI can be used for orientation, but a significant financial decision requires a professional's opinion.banking professionalCustomers increasingly arrive with preliminary information obtained from AI, which has to be handled in client service.fintech companyIn AI-based financial guidance, trust and a human handover point are the competitive advantage.K&H's Kate assistant interprets customer requests in conversation and can initiate transfersretail customerIn the conversational banking interface, a transfer can be requested in natural language, but the details must be checked before it is executed.banking professionalConversation-based transactions require rules for authentication and error handling.Hungarian banks and payment players on AI-agent shopping: OTP, SimplePay, Woltbanking professionalIn agent-based shopping, the bank's role and its proximity to the customer are a strategic decision.fintech companyPayment providers need to develop an authorisation model for payments initiated by an agent.Who pays when AI makes a mistake remains an open question in Hungary; insurers' use of AIchief financial officerThe terms of company liability insurance should be reviewed for damage caused by AI.insurerPolicy terms must clarify coverage for damage arising from AI errors.Hungarian 25-year-old builds Azta, an AI for legal and tax questionsretail customerAI tools aimed at legal and tax questions are now available, but their answers should be checked.accountantClients increasingly use AI tools to get initial information on tax questions.Erste Bank customers targeted nearly 21,000 times in six months, with losses of HUF 7 billionretail customerThe customer-approved transfer is the main point of attack, so every unexpected payment request must be verified.banking professionalFraud prevention must also be ready for transactions that are carried out by the victim and look legitimate.K&H press briefing covers AI portfolio management and ETFsretail customerAI-supported investing is becoming available at a Hungarian bank too, but responsibility for the decision stays with you.banking professionalETFs and AI support now appear together in the retail investment offering.OTP Bank launches film series and expert warning against AI-driven fraudretail customerProtection now depends on recognising manipulation attempts, not only on technology.banking professionalCustomer education and communication against social engineering are a key element alongside technical defences.In Slovakia, AI writes bank complaints, winning customers over half a million eurosbanking professionalIn complaint handling, expect AI-written submissions that are legally more precise.retail customerA complaint better worded with AI help can succeed through the supervisory route as well.Erste says it saved HUF 6 billion from fraud, with 21,000 attemptsretail customerIf you get a phone call or an urgent message, call the bank back on its official number, and do not share your photos with a suspicious contact.banking professionalThe figures show that transaction monitoring and customer education together deliver measurable savings.Hungarian experts: scammers use AI and psychological pressure to drain bank accountsretail customerDo not trust a "bank" that appears in a video call or message; verify the caller through another channel before you transfer money.banking professionalIn customer communication, it is worth repeating call-verification and call-back procedures continuously.EOS Banking AI Barometer: AI lives up to expectations at banksbanking professionalThe barometer is a benchmark for comparing Hungarian and regional AI use in banking.chief financial officerThe findings may help in assessing the return on AI investments.MBH's BUPA launches AI pre-screening to help Hungarian SMEs find fundingbanking professionalPre-screening automates the early stage of the SME lending process.chief financial officerFor an SME, it is a tool for screening grant and bank financing options.Hungarian experts call for AI and robot tax as IMF warns of lost tax revenueaccountantThe tax debate may affect how automated work is accounted for; it is worth following the proposals.chief financial officerThe debate concerns the cost and tax effects of labour replaced by AI.Gránit Bank survey: customers open to AI-based financial helpbanking professionalCustomer demand provides a basis for introducing AI assistant features.fintech companyHungarian customers' openness points to a market gap for AI-based financial tools.K&H and Mastercard extend partnership to 2030, adding AI-based payments to joint developmentbanking professionalAI-based payments will be a priority in K&H's card product development in the coming years.fintech companyThe Mastercard–K&H partnership is a channel for AI solutions to enter the Hungarian payments market.retail customerK&H customers can expect AI-supported payment features in the coming years.First test of AI-based payments in Hungary completed; OTP and SimplePay respondbanking professionalHungarian banks and payment providers must decide how to handle purchases made by AI agents.fintech companyFor SimplePay and merchants, the acceptance conditions for agent-based payments will soon become relevant.retail customerHanding purchases over to an AI agent may bring new verification and consent steps into payment processes.15% of Hungarians would already give their bank card details to AIbanking professionalHanding card details to AI raises fraud and liability questions, so banks need to address them in customer communication.retail customerGiving card details to an AI assistant is risky, so it is advisable to use authorised, tokenised solutions.fintech companyOpenness to agent-based shopping indicates the scale of demand.Four Magyar Nemzeti Bank presentations on PSR/PSD3 payment rules and AIbanking professionalPreparation for the EU changes affecting payment services can begin.Hungary's cybersecurity institute and experts warn of AI-made financial fraud and cyberattacksretail customerSpotting fake messages cannot rely on technical errors, so any unsolicited request should always be verified through an independent channel.banking professionalBased on the cybersecurity warnings, firewall updates and customer alerts must be carried out in good time.Hungarian tax and legal AI platform Azta.ai to partner with Számlázz.huaccountantAn AI tool that answers tax questions, integrated into invoicing software, may become part of the daily workflow.fintech companyThe invoicing and tax AI integration points to a new model of cooperation.chief financial officerAI answers to small businesses' tax questions should be used with professional verification.Hungary's central bank says AI increases European banks' technological dependencebanking professionalBanks should map which AI providers and shared suppliers, if they failed, would affect the operations of a Hungarian bank.Tibor Zubor named CEO of Uniqa Biztosító, Krisztián Kurtisz to lead international AI strategyinsurerAt the Hungarian insurer, the leadership change coincides with international coordination of its AI strategy.
September 2026 · 33
Hungarian surveys: one in seven Hungarians would already entrust their money to AIbanking professionalCustomers' use of AI has reached financial advice, so it should be factored into customer communication and fraud prevention.fintech companyThe trust threshold at payment is high, so transparency and security are entry requirements for AI-based payment features.retail customerEntrusting card details to AI is still a minority preference and carries fraud risk.PwC Hungary CFO survey: cost pressure and AI top the agendachief financial officerAI investments should be tied to cost-saving goals, as cost pressure is the primary context.accountantThe transformation of finance organisations may bring the automation of routine tasks.Morgan Stanley's Budapest hub has become an important international technology and analytics centrebanking professionalIn Budapest's financial technology roles, AI and automation are transforming tasks.chief financial officerThe labour-market role of service centres in Hungary is changing with AI.Gránit Bank offers new AI-based banking experienceretail customerThe bank offers a new AI-based interface for everyday banking.banking professionalHungarian competitors will need to respond with their own AI-based customer experience improvements.Gránit Bank survey: bank customers more open to AI financial helpbanking professionalCustomer openness supports rolling out AI assistants, but trust and error handling are preconditions.retail customerAs AI support spreads, customers should consider carefully which financial decisions they hand over to it.K&H prepares to accept payments initiated with Mastercard Agent Paybanking professionalAgent-initiated payments are also appearing at Hungarian banks, and the process for identifying and handling them must be developed.fintech companyK&H's move signals that agent payment acceptance capabilities are also being built in the domestic market.retail customerA customer's AI assistant may in future initiate purchases through the bank, so it is worth clarifying the approval conditions.AI could bring cost cuts and profit pressure to Hungary's financial sectorbanking professionalBanks should expect AI adoption to affect costs and headcount, while addressing regulatory concerns.insurerHungarian insurers' operations also show efficiency-oriented AI use, alongside regulatory questions.chief financial officerAI investment plans should weigh the combined effect of lower costs and profit pressure.FintechOS raises $28M after reaching profitability; Creatio to invest $300M in agentic AIfintech companyAI software vendors supplying banks and insurers are gaining capital and expanding.banking professionalThe range of vendors is widening, but buying agent-based solutions raises governance questions.AI accounting: Integral raises €18m, Tabby serves 5,500 small businesses, Hungarian Cashbook conferenceaccountantAutomation of bookkeeping, tax and payroll is changing the content of the service and the client relationship.fintech companyAI accounting platforms are attracting capital and reaching small-business customers.chief financial officerAgentic accounting solutions are already available for small businesses.Hungarian industry forums: who decides, who is accountable, who stops live bank AIbanking professionalDecision, accountability and shutdown powers must be clarified before going live.insurerIn claims handling, too, the question has arisen of where a human should step in during AI-supported customer service.Hungarian-linked Zocks provides financial assistance within Claudefintech companyThe Hungarian-linked player shows that it is possible to enter the advisory AI ecosystem as an external provider.Prime Minister's Office files complaint over HUF 300 million grant to AI research centrechief financial officerFor publicly funded AI projects, the accounting and spending audit trail must be kept in order.Hungarian tax authority NAV's AI and machine-learning developments affect cash-book checksaccountantThe cash book must be kept up to date and verifiable, because the tax authority also uses data-driven checks.chief financial officerCash-handling processes must be documented in a way that suits tax-authority analysis.Survey finds Hungarians increasingly open to using AI for their financesbanking professionalGiven customer openness, an AI spending-analysis or assistant feature is worth planning, with clear explanations, as customers are poorly informed.retail customerBefore using a bank AI assistant, find out how your data is handled.fintech companyDomestic customer openness gives a market base for personal-finance AI products.AI agents have arrived in Hungary; one in ten online shoppers could use them by 2030banking professionalA Hungarian bank must prepare its identification and approval processes for agent payments.fintech companyThe 2030 forecast justifies developing agent payment products on the Hungarian market as well.Raiffeisen launches AI business coach in Romania; Libra Bank chatbot insults a customerbanking professionalA chatbot that talks to customers needs output filtering and an escalation rule.fintech companyCustomer-service AI errors carry reputational risk, so the system should be tested with extreme inputs.Survey: a quarter of Hungarians discuss their own finances with AIretail customerAI advice needs to be checked separately, as it does not replace personalised, responsible financial advice.banking professionalCustomers often arrive after an AI conversation, so advice has to respond to the opinion they have already formed.insurerInsurers should expect customers to bring a preliminary view formed through AI when requesting quotes and asking for product explanations.Hungarian trade press: AI has opened a new era in fraud and makes it cheaperbanking professionalInternal payment-authorisation processes should require callback verification across multiple channels.chief financial officerDual approval should be introduced against transfer fraud based on executive impersonation.retail customerVoice and video alone no longer prove a person's identity.Gránit Bank and BME sign cooperation agreement, with AI ideas competitionbanking professionalHungarian banks are building AI talent and ideas through cooperation with universities.Corvinus University and UNIQA research how companies adopt AIinsurerThe research findings could offer lessons on work organisation for AI adoption in insurance.Czech and Slovak reports: scammers target people, with AI supportbanking professionalCustomer education and transaction warnings should be tuned to psychological manipulation and mobile-app attacks.retail customerDo not install an app received after a phone call or message, and do not approve unfamiliar requests.Ominimo, a Hungary-launched AI-based car insurer, is among nominees for fintech decadeinsurerA Hungarian insurtech example showing that cross-border scaling is possible with AI-based pricing.fintech companyThe Hungarian ecosystem's success story is a reference for investor and expansion strategy.AI is live in about 170 places at Hungarian banks; payback and the human factor are the questionsbanking professionalAI pilots need to become dedicated projects with measurable payback, starting from staff use.chief financial officerInvestments should be tied to payback indicators, because AI speeds up long planning cycles.Central bank makes AI a strategic priority; AI governance is the sector's taskbanking professionalFor AI in credit assessment, systems should be designed around the MNB's expectations and explainability.Claude, ChatGPT and Grok went down for an afternoon; none is listed among banks' critical providersbanking professionalA fallback procedure is needed for when the AI assistant goes down.Hungarian press: AI agents may haggle over prices and pay on users' behalfbanking professionalFor domestic payment products, the handling of agent-initiated transactions should be planned in advance.retail customerA predefined limit should be set on the payment authority given to an agent.Bank Pekao tests AI that analyses customer feedback to improve its appbanking professionalAI analysis of customer feedback can provide a fast feedback channel for mobile banking product development.Corvinus University and UNIQA launch joint research on the future of AI-based organizational operationsinsurerThe results could provide Hungarian data for insurers' organizational and workforce-planning decisions.chief financial officerThe research could offer a benchmark for Hungarian experience with organizational AI adoption.NN Insurance: 46% of Hungarian internet users have asked AI a health questioninsurerIn health insurance customer communication and product information, insurers must reckon with customers informing themselves through AI.retail customerHealth information received from AI is no substitute for information from a doctor or an insurer.MNB recommendation and credit scoring: high-risk AI systems at Hungarian banksbanking professionalThe use of AI in credit-scoring models must be reviewed under the new MNB recommendation and the EU high-risk classification.Revolut's AI assistant AIR launches in Hungary; data-handling fine print draws debateretail customerBefore using the assistant, it is worth reading which financial data it can access.banking professionalCustomer expectations of AI assistants at Hungarian banks are rising.fintech companyRevolut's move in Hungary puts competitive pressure on domestic digital providers.Romanian taxpayer's faulty AI tax advice raises question of who answers for AI hallucination before tax authorityaccountantAI-generated suggestions must be checked, because before the tax authority the expert is the one held responsible.retail customerAn AI chatbot's tax advice is no substitute for an expert's opinion; the cost of an incorrect tax return falls on the taxpayer.Yettel customers can now ask their bank's AI about their spendingretail customerAnalysing spending with AI gets simpler, but the answers are worth verifying.banking professionalGrowing customer openness justifies faster rollout of AI-based customer service features.
August 2026 · 25
Deepfake video calls from the "bank" and a new face-verification bypass scam in Hungaryretail customerDo not trust a "bank" on a video call: verification is only possible through a call-back initiated via the bank's official channel.banking professionalFace-based identification alone is not enough; the process needs additional verification steps.Colonnade Insurance: how AI-driven cyberattacks are assessed under cyber insuranceinsurerIn claims handling, the classification of events and losses must be clarified for AI-driven attacks.chief financial officerCyber policy terms should be checked on whether an AI-driven attack is covered.Hungary's MNB reviews banks' AI sub-strategies as supervisors ask for evidence of AI operationsbanking professionalDocumented consistency must be established between the AI sub-strategy and actual operations.Uniqa uses AI tool NiQA to speed up customer claims handlinginsurerAI-based claims handling can bring measurable improvements in both customer experience and efficiency.retail customerClaims reported with the help of an AI assistant can be processed faster.Hungarian warning: a family code word can protect against AI voice-cloning phone scamsretail customerAgree a code word with your family in advance, and call the relative back when asked for money urgently.banking professionalCustomer communication should include practical advice on fraud protection.Poland urges action against AI scammers using fake video of the presidentretail customerDo not treat public figures' video investment endorsements as authentic.AI is reshaping Czech insurance, but technology is no longer the deciding factorinsurerIn AI adoption, organisational and process factors matter more than the technology itself.Hungarian banks say AI will rewrite the world of work, leaving the value of a degree in questionbanking professionalIn banking careers, skills beyond a degree, including the ability to work with AI, are gaining value, so further training is worth planning.PPRO and BLIK bring agentic commerce to Polandfintech companyAgent support for regional local payment methods is a competitive advantage, so integrating the local method is worth assessing.banking professionalAgentic use of instant systems like BLIK raises new fraud and limit-management questions.Polish minister accuses Meta of 'darkest' censorship in deepfake scam disputebanking professionalThe debate on platform liability affects how customer complaints over scam ads are handled.Hungarian government to deploy new tool against AI manipulation; 70% of corporate deepfake incidents are financial fraudchief financial officerMost corporate deepfake incidents are financial fraud, so the transfer-approval process should be strengthened accordingly.banking professionalThe government action may also affect fraud-prevention and customer-identification practice, and is worth following.Money keeps vanishing from Hungarian bank accounts, and banks are powerless, Pénzcentrum reportsretail customerIt is worth setting up account notifications and transaction limits, because the bank can hardly help afterwards.banking professionalThe fraud trend reflects helplessness, so customer-warning and prevention processes should be reviewed.Fraudsters abuse OTP's name with deepfake ads in 'OTP Casino' scamretail customerDo not click or enter data on banking ads or videos seen on social media; verify authenticity through the bank's official channels.banking professionalCustomer service must be ready for reports of such scams and provide proactive customer information.Hungarian analysis: MNB Recommendation 13/2025 and the AI Act shape AI practice in financebanking professionalThe requirements of the MNB recommendation must also be enforced in supplier and partner contracts.fintech companyAs a bank partner, expect banks to pass on the recommendation's requirements.AI and robots spread quietly through Hungarian banks, with AI complementing robotic automationbanking professionalStaff need to assess which of their processes can be automated and plan AI as an extension of robotic automation, not a replacement for it.chief financial officerBanks' automation and AI development budgets should be planned in line with the robotic tools already in place.Gránit Bank survey: banking customers increasingly open to an AI assistantretail customerMore banks are likely to offer AI-based spending tracking, so it is worth clarifying what data the system can access.banking professionalCustomer demand justifies building AI-based customer interfaces, with the option of human contact.fintech companyHungarian customers' openness points to a market gap for AI-based personal finance assistants.AI Act: companies using AI may face heavy fines if they fail to meet obligationsfintech companyRisk classification of AI products and compliance documentation should be prepared in advance because of the fine risk.chief financial officerThe cost of AI Act compliance and the fine risk should be built into the budget.Hungarian accountants debate what AI means for their workaccountantRoutine data entry is being automated, so the emphasis should shift to expert review and advisory work.chief financial officerIt is worth agreeing with the accounting firm on its AI use and data-handling practices.Deceptive phone calls on the rise, and fraudsters now target companies tooretail customerNever transfer money or give out data over the phone at anyone's request; call the bank back on its own official number.chief financial officerCompany payment approvals should again include a second verification step independent of the phone.banking professionalFraud warnings and customer education should cover corporate clients as well as retail customers.Strict AI rules take effect in HungaryGránit Bank survey: bank customers increasingly open to AI helpbanking professionalCustomer demand is worth factoring into development priorities for AI-based self-service and advisory features.retail customerHungarian banks are expected to offer a growing number of AI-assisted financial services.Romania's BNR and ASF to audit bank algorithms under EU AI Actbanking professionalRegional subsidiaries should prepare to document their algorithms and make them auditable.PKO Bank Polski rolls out its first sovereign AI agentbanking professionalA large Central European bank has chosen a local, sovereign solution, which is a reference point for domestic data-management and vendor decisions.OTP Bank selects SambaNova systems to build Europe's fastest AI supercomputerbanking professionalA major Hungarian bank is investing in its own AI computing capacity, setting a pace and a supplier model in the regional competition.New bank fraud spreads in Hungary: fake account noticesretail customerDo not click links in urgent messages that refer to your bank account; verify through the bank's official channel.banking professionalCustomer communications should inform clients about the current type of fake message.