KAL was proud to be back at Banktech 2026 in Athens, where we led three sessions on how banks can make physical self-service more resilient, connected and focused on the customer.
Banktech is hosted by Mellon Group and gathers banking and technology leaders from across the region. This year’s theme was “INTELLIGENCE. RESILIENCE. TRUST. The Leadership Agenda for Banking’s Next Operating Model.”
KAL shared views on the evolving role of self-service through a keynote, a joint session with Rototype showcasing a new solution, and a panel discussion with diverse industry experts.
Rethinking ATM networks to cut costs, extend reach and optimize hardware lifespans
Banks are under growing pressure to get more value from their ATM networks. KAL Chief Technology Officer Michel Denis looked at how a fresh approach to self-service architecture can help.
Michel outlined ways to lower long-term ATM costs and get more life out of existing hardware. He also covered how banks can reach customers beyond their traditional ATM estates, including the possibility of offering ATM transactions on point-of-sale terminals.
The session used KAL’s Kalignite Hypervisor and KAL SmartPOS to show how new architecture can help banks make the most of the infrastructure they already have, while getting their networks ready for what comes next.
Moving from centralized card issuance to instant self-service
KAL CEO Aravinda Korala sat down with Rototype Executive Director Alessandro Dini to discuss card issuance and introduce Cardfidence – a specialized solution that will be launching later this year.
Aravinda and Alessandro talked through the problems with traditional centralized card distribution, including unreliable postal delivery, operational friction and inconvenience for customers.
They also discussed how instant issuance lets customers collect a new or replacement card exactly when they need it. This can open new doors for self-service onboarding and customer acquisition.
Why physical self-service still matters in a digital-first world
The final session was a panel moderated by KAL Deputy CEO Kader Baadoud. It asked what role physical banking touchpoints still play as financial services become more digital and remote.
Kader was joined by:
- Angelos Karakerezis, Deputy General Manager, Retail Banking, Eurobank
- Florin Branici, Alternative Channel Director, UniCredit Romania
- Aneliya Tomova, Director, Contact Centre, Retail Division, DSK Bank
- George Kostopoulos, Digital Transformation and Business Innovation, Piraeus
- Dimitrios Plessas, Assistant General Manager, Cards & Digital Business, National Bank of Greece
- Ziabuddin Shah, General Manager of Digital Transformation, Rototype S.p.A. Middle East (Branch)
The panel looked at how customer expectations are changing, how banks can balance physical and digital channels, and where new self-service opportunities are appearing.
They also discussed how ATMs and kiosks can work alongside digital channels, giving customers convenient, connected ways to bank in and beyond the branch.
Instant card issuance and unassisted onboarding were highlighted as practical examples of physical self-service evolving in step with digital customer journeys.
Shaping the next generation of self-service banking
One message ran through all three sessions. Digital banking does not remove the need for physical self-service. It changes what customers and banks expect those touchpoints to do.
Whether it is extending the life and reach of ATM infrastructure or rethinking how cards reach customers, the opportunity is to make self-service more flexible, more efficient and more closely tied to the wider banking experience.
Thank you to Mellon Group for bringing the banking community together at Banktech 2026, to Rototype for joining us on stage, and to all our panelists for sharing their insights!