Artificial intelligence set to reshape banking and consumer transactions

At the Fintech 5.0 conference held on October 31, 2026, industry leaders from Google Cloud, Microsoft, and NBG Pay discussed the impending transformation of the financial system through artificial intelligence. The event, moderated by Efi Bitrou, Senior Director of Digital Business at the National Bank of Greece, featured insights from Christophoros Chatzopoulos, CEO of NBG Pay, Moritz Platt of Google Cloud EMEA, and Christian Sarafidis of Microsoft EMEA Financial Services.

The discussion highlighted a shift toward autonomous digital assistants capable of executing purchases and managing payments on behalf of consumers. Financial institutions are currently redesigning their infrastructure, exploring cardless payment technologies and blockchain integration to accommodate these automated services. These developments aim to streamline daily financial activities, fundamentally changing the traditional roles of banks and payment providers in global commerce.

Looking ahead, the sector is entering a new era focused on trust, transaction security, and the regulation of AI-driven financial interactions. Banks are actively adapting their systems to maintain control and ensure customer safety as these automated capabilities move from conceptual frameworks to real-world deployment.