As fintech innovation accelerates across Europe, Vilnius once again positioned itself as a central hub for forward-thinking financial dialogue during Baltic Fintech Days 2025. Held over two impactful days, the conference attracted over 1,000 stakeholders, bringing together startup leaders, financial institutions, regulators, and technology innovators from across the Baltics and beyond.
The event’s agenda was shaped by more than 60 expert speakers who addressed emerging topics such as AI-powered banking, embedded financial services, digital regulatory frameworks, and personalised customer journeys. The conference not only showcased the vitality of Lithuania’s fintech scene but also reaffirmed the Baltic region’s importance as a launchpad for scalable, compliant, and customer-focused digital financial solutions.
With curated networking sessions, demo stages, and panel discussions spanning everything from open banking to cross-border digital ID, Baltic Fintech Days 2025 proved to be more than just a knowledge-sharing event—it became a convergence point for innovation, collaboration, and policy shaping.
EMBank’s Dual Role: Sponsor and Shaper
Playing a prominent role throughout the event, European Merchant Bank (EMBank) stood out as both a leading sponsor and a strategic voice in the ongoing evolution of European banking. Known for its agile and tech-forward approach, EMBank used the platform to share its vision for responsible innovation and client-centric financial services.
The Bank’s founder, Dr. Ozan Ozerk, delivered a captivating keynote titled “From Saving Lives to Saving Finance: What Medicine Taught Me About Fixing Money.” His journey from medical doctor to fintech visionary brought a unique lens to the audience. Dr. Ozerk explored how methodologies from the healthcare sector—such as precise diagnostics, early intervention, and ethical accountability—can offer fresh solutions to entrenched inefficiencies in financial systems.
Drawing parallels between healthcare diagnostics and financial systems, he challenged industry leaders to adopt more ethical, proactive, and systemic approaches to financial reform. “In medicine, we are taught to diagnose early, intervene responsibly, and never lose sight of the individual,” he stated. “Finance must do the same—identify systemic flaws before they become crises, act with long-term accountability, and build solutions that serve people, not just institutions.”
He stressed the importance of precision, prevention, and transparency, offering concrete parallels between the disciplines. The keynote encouraged fintech builders and regulators alike to look beyond metrics and toward human outcomes—a call for deeper responsibility in financial innovation. His message emphasised the importance of systemic reform, long-term resilience, and human-centred thinking in shaping the future of finance—principles EMBank applies across its operations.
Driving Dialogue on Hyperpersonalisation
In another standout moment, EMBank CEO Sarp Demiray joined a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Is Hyperpersonalisation the Ultimate Competitive Edge in Finance?” and offered a pragmatic view on how tailored banking experiences are evolving from novelty to necessity. He highlighted EMBank’s guiding philosophy—“Digital bank with a human touch”—emphasising that for SME and fintech clients, personalisation isn’t just about user experience; it’s about delivering contextual value at scale.
Demiray explained that personalisation has always existed in banking, but what’s different now is the scalability enabled by digitalisation and AI. The real differentiator, he argued, lies in execution, timing, and relevance, not in cosmetic tweaks. “A personalised offer that’s mistimed is still irrelevant,” he cautioned.
He also discussed how AI and real-time analytics allow EMBank to act as a “co-pilot” for its clients—delivering smarter insights, faster responses, and deeper understanding across thousands of businesses. But Demiray was clear: “It’s not about replacing people—it’s about freeing humans to focus where the stakes are highest.”
Looking ahead, Demiray predicted that in the next five years, hyper-personalised banking would become so seamless and embedded in platforms that many SMEs may not even perceive they’re interacting with a bank. “Their accounting, treasury, and banking functions will converge into one intelligent layer—quietly powered by financial infrastructure behind the scenes.” He closed the panel with a single piece of advice for fintechs and banks pursuing hyperpersonalisation: “Show genuine interest to understand.”
Deepening Engagement with the Fintech Ecosystem
Beyond the conference stages, EMBank’s delegation actively engaged with the wider fintech community, holding discussions with startups, developers, policymakers, and investors. These interactions reflected the Bank’s strong commitment to collaboration and ecosystem building, especially in areas like digital SME banking, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), and secure cross-border payments.
Charting the Path Ahead
With its roots in Lithuania and its vision anchored in European innovation values, EMBank continues to lead as a digitally native, compliance-driven banking partner. Its involvement in Baltic Fintech Days 2025 demonstrated a consistent alignment with emerging market needs, technological advancement, and financial inclusion.
To explore EMBank’s solutions or connect with its leadership team, visit em.bank.
