PKO Bank Polski Awarded in the "Leader 2022" Competition for Opening a Branch in the Metaverse

During the "TechnoBiznes 2023" gala, PKO Bank Polski was honored in the "Leader 2022" competition organized by Gazeta Bankowa for opening a branch in the Metaverse and was distinguished for its solutions in robotics, supporting processes related to statutory credit holidays. The competition's jury evaluated 40 technological solutions submitted by banks and appreciated the innovation implemented by PKO Bank Polski.

PKO Bank Polski is taking pioneering steps in the Metaverse and is paving the way for other financial institutions. We have a well-coordinated team consisting of experts in their respective fields, and with their support, we will consistently increase our presence in the metaverse in the coming quarters and accumulate valuable experiences. We will use these experiences to build further competitive advantages for PKO Bank Polski and strengthen our position as a leader in metabanking 

- said Artur Kurcweil, Vice President of the Management Board of PKO Bank Polski, responsible for Technology.

Development in the Metaverse aligns perfectly with PKO Bank Polski's strategy, which also addresses future challenges. We believe that the Metaverse has the potential to become an important communication channel with the younger generations. We observe a growing group of young people spending time in the virtual world, and we want to be prepared in advance to meet their future needs. Actions in this area require agility and determination in paving new paths, for which the bank is well-prepared 

- said Katarzyna Dziwulska, Managing Director of the Digital Strategy and Transformation Division at PKO Bank Polski.

First Branch of a Polish Bank in the Metaverse, First Virtual Job Fair

Since 2022, PKO Bank Polski has been present on the Decentraland platform, where it launched its virtual branch - a digital replica of the Warsaw PKO Rotunda. This branch serves as a digital laboratory for the development of tools dedicated to the Metaverse. Through it, the bank tests various forms of user engagement and builds know-how in the virtual world presence. In May 2023, PKO Bank Polski organized a fully virtual job fair in its Decentraland branch, which was attended by several hundred participants. It was the first event of its kind in the country and one of the first in the world.

PKO Bank Polski to Accelerate Development in the Metaverse

The bank aims to systematically increase its presence in the Metaverse. It is preparing to create attractive spaces on gaming platforms such as Fortnite and Roblox and to expand its activity on Metaverse-class platforms like Decentraland and The Sandbox. It also plans to build additional VR models of its branches. The bank is currently looking for companies with the necessary technological experience to collaborate on creating and maintaining virtual spaces and designing games on gaming platforms and Metaverse-class platforms.

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PKO Bank Polski is the undisputed leader of the Polish banking sector, with the value of its assets amounting to PLN 431 billion. In 2022, the bank generated PLN 3.3 billion in net profit. The company serves 11.7 million customers. It is the basic supplier of financial services for all customer segments, achieving the highest shares in the market of deposits, loans and in the market of private investment funds. Thanks to the development of digital tools, including the IKO application, which is actively used by 7.2 million customers, PKO Bank Polski is the most mobile bank in Poland.