Bank Pekao S.A. is consistently developing initiatives aimed at young people who want to have a real impact on the future of finance. In June, the bank organized a meeting in London with Polish students studying at universities in the United Kingdom as part of the “Beyond the Horizon Pekao Challenge” project.
The event was combined with the final of a competition addressed to members of the Federation of Polish Student Societies in the UK and provided a platform for discussions on what banking will look like in the years ahead.
The objective of the initiative was to identify the best analytical and strategic papers addressing key challenges facing the financial sector — from the future of investment banking and the development of mobile banking to cooperation with fintech companies and new sources of revenue.
During the meeting, the finalists presented their projects and confronted them with the perspectives of business practitioners. Based on these presentations, Bank Pekao selected eight winners of the competition, who received invitations to participate in a three-month paid internship programme, with special recognition awarded to the authors of the three best papers.
“This meeting demonstrates how important dialogue with the younger generation is to us. Their way of thinking, their courage in asking questions, and their ability to look beyond established patterns help us build a bank that responds to a changing world,” said Cezary Stypułkowski, President of the Management Board of Bank Pekao S.A.
The meeting took the form of an open discussion. Students asked questions about the bank’s strategy, the use of artificial intelligence, and expectations regarding future employees.
“We want to stay close to young people who are curious about the world and ready to seek new solutions. Initiatives such as the Beyond the Horizon Pekao Challenge allow us to think together about the future of banking and create opportunities for growth and development,” emphasized Przemysław Stalica, Head of the People, Organization and CX Division at Bank Pekao.
The meeting concluded with a networking session, which enabled direct conversations and the establishment of relationships between students and bank representatives.
The “Beyond the Horizon Pekao Challenge” is another element of Bank Pekao S.A.’s employer branding activities. The bank continues to develop initiatives that connect the academic world with business, providing young people with opportunities to gain experience, develop their skills, and have a real impact on the future of the financial sector.
Bank Pekao S.A., founded in 1929, is one of the largest financial institutions in the CEE region and the second largest universal bank in Poland, with assets of PLN 356 billion. The bank has the second largest branch network in the country. It is a leader in corporate banking, serving every second among largest corporates in Poland. Pekao holds a prominent position in the market for asset management, brokerage services, and private banking. The diversified business profile of Bank Pekao is supported by a market-leading balance sheet and risk profile, reflected in the lowest risk costs, strong capital ratios, and resilience to macroeconomic conditions (Pekao is the most resilient bank in Europe, taking first place in the stress tests conducted by the EBA in 2025 among 64 banks). Since 1998, Bank Pekao has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and has been a member of several local indices (including WIG 20 and WIG) as well as international indices (including MSCI EM, Stoxx Europe 600, and FTSE Developed). Pekao is top dividend-paying company listed in Warsaw, with the highest dividend payout of over PLN 40 billion, since the Warsaw Stock Exchange was reestablished in 1991. Over the past 10 years, the bank has paid out to shareholders a total of over PLN 23 billion.
