Currently focused on mortgage requests, Gránit Guru is expected to evolve into a fully personalized digital banker.
From the start, Gránit Bank has embraced digital innovation, earning the title of “Fastest Growing Digital Bank in Hungary” for the third consecutive year.
“Gránit Bank remains at the forefront of digital banking innovation,” said Éva Hegedüs, president and CEO of Gránit Bank. Earlier this summer, she represented Hungary as a finalist at the “EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025” awards in Monaco.
“The speed, convenience, and forward-thinking solutions we offer are tailored to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” Hegedüs said. “We deliver banking experiences that are both intuitive and educational, a commitment that continues to be recognized not only by our clients but by the industry as well.”
In 2024, the bank also expanded services, allowing customers to manage daily finances and investment portfolios within one app, including deposits, government bonds, mutual funds and Budapest Stock Exchange-listed shares.
These innovations produced measurable growth. By November 2024, Gránit Bank’s customer accounts surged 52.7% year-over-year to 222,000, with 98% opened digitally.
The momentum reflects a broader trend. According to the Hungarian National Bank (MNB), two-thirds of domestic banks are exploring AI at strategic and operational levels. Globally, AI-focused fintechs attracted USD 12.1 billion in investment last year.
Hegedüs noted that while banks have long used digitalization and traditional AI, “the next frontier, even in the short term, lies in generative and agentic AI-driven solutions.” These include credit risk modeling, fraud detection, anti-money laundering systems, and natural language processing tools that streamline customer data processing.
The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that generative AI could add USD 200 billion to USD 340 billion in value annually for global banking, equivalent to 2.8%–4.7% of industry revenues. But with rapid adoption come challenges: bias, data security, intellectual property concerns and transparency.
The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, which took effect in August 2024, seeks to ensure AI systems are safe, reliable and aligned with fundamental rights.
As AI capabilities advance, Hungarian banking is moving toward predictive, hyper-personalized services. Virtual assistants like Gránit Guru may soon anticipate customer needs rather than simply respond. Still, experts stress that personalization must never come at the expense of transparency or privacy.
Ultimately, trust will determine how far and how fast AI reshapes finance.
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