12 May 2026
Bilbao
On 11 May, Deusto Business School and Deusto Business Alumni held the 13th Financial Conference 2026 under the title “Modernising to Compete: “The Future of the European Financial System”. The event was organised in collaboration with Kutxabank Investment, Finnk and Bilbao Plaza Financiera, with Grupo Noticias acting as media partner.
The event, held at the University of Deusto, brought together leading figures from the financial, institutional and technological sectors to discuss one of Europe’s major strategic challenges: the need to modernise and revitalise its financial system in order to enhance its global competitiveness.
The discussions focused on key issues such as the digitalisation of payment systems, the development of the digital euro, the emergence of neobanks, the transformation of traditional banking and the impact of artificial intelligence on the financial sector.
Antón Arriola: “Europe needs banks with cross-border capabilities”
Antón Arriola, president of Kutxabank, framed the debate within the current European context and the conclusions of the Letta and Draghi reports on competitiveness. “The future of Europe and its sustainability depend on competitiveness,” he said, arguing that the financial sector must become “a strategic infrastructure” for the continent.
The speaker pointed out that Europe has one major strength: private savings. However, he pointed out that the problem lies in the inability to convert those savings into productive investment. Among the key challenges, he highlighted the need to promote venture capital, adapt financial regulation and strengthen Europe’s financial capacity. “Europe needs banks with cross-border capabilities,” he said. He also highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence as a driver of economic and geopolitical transformation.
Bizum and the digital euro
The first panel discussion addressed the future of payment methods and digital transactions. The event featured María Sáenz de Buruaga, Team Lead at the European Central Bank, and Ángel Nigorra, Managing Director of Bizum, with Mikel Larreina, Vice-Dean for International and Institutional Relations at Deusto Business School, acting as moderator.
During the discussion, the evolution of Bizum was analysed. The service began as a collaborative project by Spanish banks and is now working towards becoming an interoperable, pan-European solution. “Our strategy for achieving this is interoperability,” explained Ángel Nigorra, who revealed that Bizum is already working with France and Germany to enable international payments between individuals and, subsequently, in shops. “If all goes well, we hope to sign agreements in June,” he said.
María Sáenz de Buruaga, for her part, explained the role of the European Central Bank in the development of the digital euro and the need to maintain a balance between public and private money in an increasingly digitalised environment. “The ECB is considering a digital euro at a time when Facebook has announced plans to launch its own currency,” he said, also noting the decline in the use of cash among young people.
The aim, he explained, is for any member of the public to be able to use the digital euro in a simple, inclusive and secure way, whilst ensuring that it continues to coexist with cash. “The cash payment model isn’t going to disappear,” he said.
One of the topics that generated the most interest was the difference between Bizum and the digital euro. Whilst Bizum operates via transfers between private bank accounts, the digital euro would be public money issued directly by the ECB. “We want to provide a digital twin of cash,” summarised María Sáenz de Buruaga.
Neobanks and digital transformation
The second panel discussion focused on the digital transformation of the banking sector and the rise of neobanks. The panellists were Pablo Reboiro, Head of Retail Customers & Digital Channels at Banco Santander, and Tomás Calleja, senior partner at McKinsey & Company, with Manu Martín-Muñío, Managing Director of Kutxabank Investment, acting as moderator.
Tomás Calleja explained that neobanks have successfully reinvented the customer experience through simpler, more agile and fully digital products. “They have reinvented the customer experience and are proving highly effective at attracting new customers,” he noted. For his part, Pablo Reboiro pointed out that the digital model allows for a much more efficient cost structure. “You carry the digital bank in your pocket and can carry out transactions at any time,” he said.
Both agreed that digital transformation is no longer optional for traditional banks, which are making significant investments in technology, talent and new operating models. “The war for talent is one of the sector’s major challenges,” said Calleja. They also discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on the banking sector, both in terms of process automation and in relation to customer relations and data management.
Noel D’Anjou
The closing address was given by Noel D’Anjou, the Basque Government’s Minister for Finance, who emphasised that the modernisation of the European financial system is “a necessity” rather than an option. He spoke about the rise of fintech and the need to build robust, innovative and secure financial ecosystems capable of meeting the needs of a “better-informed, more demanding and less loyal” customer.
