Euro Finance Week 2025

17th - 19th of November 2025

The Euro Finance Week 2025 opened with strong impulses for the future of Europe’s financial landscape. As a network and community partner, the Bankenverband Mitte contributed to two key kick-off sessions—bringing leadership perspectives, capital market priorities and technological developments into the conversation.

Opening Conference: Leadership, Capital Markets & Europe’s Path Forward

The Opening Conference marked the official start of the 28th Euro Finance Week and set the tone for the coming days: Europe is at an inflection point, and Frankfurt plays a decisive role in shaping the way ahead.

Power Talk: The Can-Do Factor with Dr. Paul Achleitner

In conversation with Dr. Paul Achleitner, we explored leadership principles in a world defined by volatility, uncertainty and rapid change. One message stood out clearly:
Optimism is a leadership duty.

In an increasingly fluid and complex environment, attitude matters. Leading with confidence, clarity and a willingness to shape the future created a powerful momentum at the start of the week.

The Investment Factor – Global Dynamics and European Priorities

The high-level panel featuring
Oliver Behrens, Sonja Laud (Schemmann), Jose Minaya and Dr. Matthias Voelkel,
focused on capital market developments and international competitiveness. Key insights included:

• The US and UK are implementing targeted measures to strengthen their competitiveness.
• Europe needs deeper and more integrated capital markets to keep pace.
• Technology can unlock substantial efficiency gains—if innovation is embraced.
• Reforming the pension system and enabling better retail access to capital markets are critical; models in the UK and Sweden offer valuable guidance.

Takeaway from the Opening Conference:
Europe has enormous potential—but competitiveness, capital market integration and technological progress must be advanced together.

Tech Day: AI, Data and Digital Innovation as Drivers of Transformation

The Euro Finance Tech Day showcased how strongly technology is already shaping the financial industry—and how much transformative power still lies ahead.

Digital Power Structures – Big Data & AI at the Core of Modern Finance

Together with Prof. Dr. Fritzi Köhler-Geib (Deutsche Bundesbank), we discussed key technological trends:

• the use of AI and Big Data in central banking
• international cooperation in digital innovation
• valuation questions and risks of potential price bubbles
• digital sovereignty and strategic perspectives on crypto assets

AI in Securities Business – Strategies, Applications, Challenges

In discussion with Daniel Kapffer (CFO & COO, DekaBank), the focus lay on practical AI applications—from productivity gains to new use cases in asset management, regulatory considerations and the impact on the labor market.

A highlight of the Tech Day was a live audience poll:
Is AI overhyped or underhyped?
The outcome: nearly 50/50—with a slight edge for “underhyped.”
A clear sign that many see the long-term potential of AI as far from fully realized.

Conclusion: Frankfurt Shapes the Future

Both the Opening Conference and Tech Day made one thing unmistakably clear:
The future of the financial industry will be defined at the intersection of leadership, capital market development, and technology.

Frankfurt is increasingly emerging as a driving force—bringing together expertise, enabling innovation and creating a space for shaping tomorrow’s financial world.

We extend our appreciation to all speakers, partners and participants for their contributions and open dialogue. Special thanks go to Andreas G. Scholz and Meike Katharina Buchholz, whose dedication once again made the Euro Finance Week an inspiring forum.

The years ahead will show how AI, digital innovation and capital market reforms will reshape the industry. What is certain: Euro Finance Week 2025 set the stage.