mBank Sets New Standards in Banking Technology Modernization with Core System Replatforming

Major Milestone in European Banking Technology

mBank, a prominent player in Poland’s financial sector, has successfully completed one of the most ambitious technology modernization programs in European banking. As a result, mBank received the prestigious Forrester Technology Strategy Impact Award 2025 for the EMEA region, a testament to its innovative and effective IT transformation strategy.

Pioneering Complete Core System Modernization

mBank is the first financial institution in Poland to fully replatform its core banking systems, migrating them to advanced technology platforms. This extensive modernization has accelerated mBank’s development, reduced the cost of maintaining essential systems, and enhanced its ability to respond to shifting market conditions. The transformation underscores the importance of managing investments in technology to maintain a competitive edge and optimize portfolio risk within the banking industry.

Key Transformation Achievements

• Legacy System Overhaul: mBank replaced its mainframe-based system with a new solution running on x86 architecture, significantly boosting scalability and lowering operational expenses.
• Next-Generation Core: The second core system, formerly on a non-relational database, was migrated to a proprietary solution in a private cloud, improving performance, resilience, and scalability.
• Hybrid Cloud Adoption: Over half of the bank’s core systems now operate in a hybrid cloud environment, facilitating better investment analysis and risk and investment controls.
• AI-powered Innovation: The launch of production-level generative AI solutions has driven operational efficiency and innovation across the bank.

Focus on Seamless Customer Experience

Migrating approximately 6 million retail customers posed a significant challenge. mBank implemented a sharding architecture to enable gradual, uninterrupted migration from mainframe to x86 platforms. This careful approach ensured no downtime or disruption for customers, effectively managing the portfolio risk associated with large-scale technology changes.

Innovation Beyond Technology: New Features and Offerings

While transforming its core infrastructure, mBank simultaneously rolled out key business and regulatory projects, including:

• mOkazje Zakupy: The first integrated e-commerce marketplace within a Polish banking app
• Digital mortgage refinancing: A fully online mortgage refinancing process
• Corporate digital onboarding: Streamlined onboarding for business clients
• Faster loan approvals: A marked reduction in corporate loan approval times

Strategic Impact and Future Vision

These advancements have paved the way for mBank’s new strategy, “Full Speed Ahead,” which will focus on instant payments and 24/7 banking services for both retail and corporate clients. Operational efficiency gains have lowered the bank’s cost-to-income ratio to 28.2%, among the industry's best, optimizing investment returns. Earning the Forrester Award places mBank at the forefront of technological transformation and customer experience in the region.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.