Raiffeisen Tech: strong technological foundation for RBI Group

In the face of growing digital demands, Raiffeisen Tech plays a crucial role in the transformation of RBI Group. In a conversation with Harald Schaschinger, Chief Executive Officer of Raiffeisen Tech GmbH, we explore how the company supports innovation, builds internal it talent, and turns challenges into opportunities in the CEE Region.

Raiffeisen Tech has been established to power RBI Group’s technology backbone with professional IT capabilities and capacities needed to support transformation at pace. Our role is to provide predictable delivery, reduce external dependencies, and modernize critical banking services so RBI Group can innovate faster and operate with greater resilience. At the same time, we build RBI group internal IT talents for the entire RBI Group, retaining knowledge, strengthening capabilities, and reducing long-term reliance on external providers.

Raiffeisen Tech was established based on a strategic RBI Board decision to consolidate a significant amount of previously external IT expertise within RBI Group and build a center of excellence supporting RBI and all NWUs.

We were not founded to replace local IT teams, our mission is to complement and strengthen them through dedicated engineering hubs in Kosovo, Romania, and Poland. These hubs have matured into multi-disciplinary technology organizations serving the entire RBI Group.

Raiffeisen Tech in Kosovo and Romania became formally operational on July 1, 2024, while both hubs previously operated under local bank structures. Together with Raiffeisen Tech Poland, these locations form a unified technology brand and a competitive employer proposition across CEE, attracting talent that might otherwise not join the financial sector.

Our history reflects the growing demand for unified digital solutions and RBI Group’s commitment to long-term technological leadership.

Raiffeisen Tech provides three categories of IT services that support RBI Group’s transformation:

1. IT Delivery: Core development and operations, including solution delivery, low-code solutions (Power Platform, Appian), data products (Databricks, APEX, Data Mesh), and operations/ maintenance services such as RCDC, SIEM, OnBase, NMADB, WH4B, C-Force, and Zscaler support.
2. Other IT Services: Specialized deliveries such as cloud application migration, AI development and integration, and penetration testing.
3. IT Consulting: High-value advisory services including business process optimization, UX/UI audits, and multiple facets of service management consulting.

What sets us apart is our deep understanding of banking and our proximity to our RBI Group customer base. We combine global engineering standards with local market insight, and we do so as part of RBI Group, aligned with its strategy, regulatory requirements, and long-term objectives. Unlike external vendors, our knowledge stays inside RBI Group, strengthening our collective capabilities year after year.

Our Roadshow is an internal engagement initiative designed to bring Raiffeisen Tech directly to the markets. Its purpose is to set up a Relationship Management model that will be responsible for a certain portfolio of NWUs through which we’re organizing on-site or online visits to present who we are, explain our capabilities, and explore cooperation opportunities.

Both, the Relationship Management facilitated by the Roadshow, allow us to build strong relationships, understand local needs firsthand, and identify where our services can create the highest value for the business.

In late spring we launched the Roadshow engagement process and visited and contacted several NWUs such as RBCZ and RLCZ (Czech Republic), TBSK and RPC (Slovakia), RBHR (Croatia), RBBH (Bosnia and Herzegovina), RBRS (Serbia), and RBHU (Hungary), with RBAL (Albania) next on the roadmap as well as Austrian subsidiaries.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. NWUs value the clarity of our offering, the transparency of our approach, and our willingness to co-create solutions rather than simply 'pitch' services. Many highlight our proximity, scope of our expertise, and straightforward communication as major differentiators.

Given the timing of this publication, our focus is on closing 2025 successfully and meeting the strategic goals we have set for this year.

Our broader priority remains consistent: accelerating delivery, increasing the value we bring to RBI Group, and becoming the number one technology partner for RBI. This includes strengthening our engineering capabilities and futher expanding our service provision to NWUs, much of which is already being shaped by insights from our Roadshow.

What are the biggest challenges we face? Our main challenges are competing for top technology talents and aligning diverse priorities across RBI Group. However, strong governance, close cooperation within Raiffeisen Tech, and deep alignment with RBI Group stakeholders and customers allow us to navigate these challenges effectively and with confidence. What is most crucial to us is a well-skilled and experienced IT staff base on modern, state-of-the-art technologies, the clear commitment and readiness to learn and apply new technologies (e.g. AI), and provide a high level of flexibility for new engagements.

Our main challenges are competing for top technology talents and aligning diverse priorities across RBI Group. However, strong governance, close cooperation within Raiffeisen Tech, and deep alignment with RBI Group stakeholders and customers allow us to navigate these challenges effectively and with confidence. What is most crucial to us is a well-skilled and experienced IT staff base on modern, state-of-the-art technologies, the clear commitment and readiness to learn and apply new technologies (e.g. AI), and provide a high level of flexibility for new engagements.

By partnering with Raiffeisen Tech, NWUs gain access to RBI Group-scale expertise, mature engineering teams, and capabilities that can be quickly integrated into local delivery.

This leads to reduced operational and technology costs, faster delivery timelines, consistent standards, and enhanced security and compliance.

In short, collaboration with Raiffeisen Tech reduces complexity, mitigates risk, and accelerates modernization.

The future of banking will be shaped by cloud-native platforms, real-time data, AI-driven services, and secure modular systems. Banks that succeed will be those that transform quickly while maintaining the trust and stability customers expect.

Raiffeisen Tech will be at the center of this transformation, building shared platforms, driving modernization, and helping to position RBI as a technology driven, future-ready international banking group.

Our vision is to become the first-choice technology partner for RBI Group, driving the transformation into the future of banking. Our mission is to enable RBI Group to be the best in its field by providing a collaborative environment, where IT and Business talents together build solutions and boost innovation.

By partnering with Raiffeisen Tech, NWUs gain access to RBI Groupscale expertise, mature engineering teams, and capabilities that can be quickly integrated into local delivery.