Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy starts cooperation with Hitachi and Basement to use digital durable medium

Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy (KBS) signed agreements with the Polish branch of Hitachi Europe Ltd. and Basement Sp. z o. o. for the implementation of a durable medium solution. As a result, KBS will be among the banks using the digital information exchange platform compliant with the European Union’s regulations, opening to the needs of customers and implementing the principles of sustainable development (ESG). Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy (KBS) is the largest unaffiliated cooperative bank in Poland, actively introducing innovations in cooperative banking. KBS has decided to implement a highly personalized electronic platform that will facilitate contact and digitize communication between the bank and its clients, storing and sharing electronic documents in a secure manner. The new system guarantees the immutability of stored information and free, 24/7 access for customers. This solution will ensure a significant reduction in paper consumption and will allow for the automation of another operational area of the bank. Digital public and private communication with the Bank's customers are the next step in the digitization of Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy. “The goal of Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy is the satisfaction of our customers. We are conducting a comprehensive digital transformation at the Bank, as part of which we digitize banking processes in cooperation with the best companies. That is why we decided to implement the project of a durable medium with recognized suppliers of this solution, such as Hitachi and Basement, who have extensive experience in this area in Poland.” - informs Mariusz Kumorek, Vice-President of the Management Board of Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy. The durable medium solution chosen by Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy is based on Hitachi Content Platform (HCP), an object store based on WORM technology from Hitachi Vantara, and the HCPortal API software, a middle layer developed by Hitachi Europe, to connect between HCP and the bank’s systems. The Basement company provides an application for handling publications (Publikator), i.e., a personalized front-end tailored to the customer's expectations, and a back-office application for cooperative bank to handle communication with the customer. More than 100 cooperative banks as well as many commercial banks in Poland currently use the solution. “I am very happy that the largest cooperative bank in Poland, Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy, has decided to use our solution for a durable medium. The implemented solution may also be used in the future for the digital transformation of many other areas of the bank.” – said Tadeusz Woszczyński, Country Manager at Hitachi Europe Ltd. responsible for markets in Poland, Austria, and Central and Eastern Europe. The solution implemented by Hitachi and Basement can be developed in the future and used for many other applications, such as accepting documentation from customers in sales processes, signing contracts with customers remotely, digital workflow of documentation (ECM) in the bank or secure file exchange. “This is another important digitization project of a large cooperative bank. For us, an important element is the fact that our solution is used by other banks and becomes a standard in the cooperative sector. A coherent approach of associations and unaffiliated banks gives the opportunity to effectively develop this platform in the future.” – said Robert Tórz, Vice-President of the Management Board of Basement Sp. z o. o. The solution of a durable medium from Hitachi and Basement, chosen by Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy, is a step towards a secure relationship between the bank and the client in the constantly developing digital banking sector. About Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy: Krakowski Bank Spółdzielczy is a bank with a 125-year history and a network of 65 branches throughout the country, employing over 600 employees. The bank is undergoing a comprehensive digital transformation. In January 2023, the Bank announced the achievement of nearly PLN 88 million in gross profit for 2022 (unaudited data), which is the bank's best result in its 125-year history. More information: https://www.kbsbank.com.pl About Hitachi Europe: Hitachi Europe Ltd. is a subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., headquartered in Stoke Poges, United Kingdom. The company focuses its activities on the Social Innovation Business by providing innovations that respond to the needs of society. Hitachi Europe Ltd. and its subsidiaries offer a wide range of IT and telecommunications systems: railway systems, energy and industrial systems, industrial components and devices, systems for the automotive industry, digital media, consumer products and others, conducting operational activities and own research and development laboratories development in the EMEA region. More information: www.hitachi.eu Hitachi Europe Branch in Poland is an important supplier to the Polish banking sector, providing, among others, enterprise and midrange data storage systems, ECM systems, identity management (IAM) solutions, cybersecurity and software development services or RegTech solutions (durable medium, MiFID2, Recommendation D). The Polish team of Hitachi Europe solved the problem of a durable medium by developing and launching a solution based on WORM storage in 2017. Since 2007, Hitachi Europe has been cooperating with the Polish Bank Association as an active member of the Banking Technology Forum (FTB). More information: www.hitachi.pl About Hitachi Vantara: Hitachi Vantara, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., delivers the intelligent data platforms, infrastructure systems, and digital expertise that supports more than 80% of the Fortune 100. To learn how Hitachi Vantara turns businesses from data-rich to data-driven through agile digital processes, products, and experiences, visit www.hitachivantara.com. About Basement: Basement Sp. z o. o. is a technology company that provides services and business applications to the banking, railway, and Smart City sectors. It specializes in providing integration services and tools that automate processes in enterprises. For over a dozen years, it has also provided comprehensive support in the implementation of solutions whose application increases the flexibility, efficiency, and security of IT services, accelerating the pace of business development. As part of its product portfolio, it has dedicated systems for banking, railways, and Smart City. Member of the Polish Chamber of Manufacturers of Equipment and Services for Railways and the Banking Technology Forum (FTB). More information: https://www.basement.pl