On 10 March 2026, around 85 executives from the financial and credit industry gathered at PwC Berlin for the BKS Management Day to discuss the most pressing topics facing the sector. From geopolitics to residential real estate, banking strategy, regulation and AI in risk management — a day of high-calibre keynotes and lively panel discussions.
Welcome
BKS President Jürgen Sonder and Advisory Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Christoph Schalast opened the Management Day and set the stage for an intensive day of conference sessions.
Keynote Geopolitics: Stability in Times of Uncertainty
Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, political scientist and expert on transatlantic relations, assessed the current geopolitical landscape. Her talk examined the impact of global uncertainties on the European financial industry and outlined perspectives for stability in a changing international environment.
Keynote and Panel: Inside Residential Property
Ronald Slabke, CEO of Hypoport, provided insights into the current state of the residential property market in his keynote. The subsequent panel discussion saw Prof. Dr. Verena Rock MRICS (President, gif e.V.), René Kunsleben (Board Spokesman, BAG Bankaktiengesellschaft) and Dr. Clifford Tjiok (CCO, LOANCOS) explore the topics surrounding home ownership in Germany in greater depth.
Keynote Banking Strategy: Managing Bank Risks in Volatile Times
Rüdiger Rass, Divisional Board Member for Credit Risk at Commerzbank, spoke about the challenges of risk management in a market environment characterised by volatility. His presentation showed how banks are adapting their strategies to remain resilient in uncertain times.
Panel Regulation: Evaluating KrZwMG After Two Years
Two years after the Credit Servicer Directive Implementation Act (KrZwMG) came into force, the panellists took stock. Philipp Thurmann (PwC) and Dr. Thomas Dohrn (Federal Ministry of Finance) delivered the opening impulses, before Boris Rickmann (Deutsche Bank) and Dr. Michael Jung (Intrum) contributed practical experience from across the industry.
Panel Technology: AI in Risk Management
The final thematic session was the technology panel. Dr. Jochen Papenbrock (NVIDIA) and Lennart Wagner (DKB) provided impulses on the use of artificial intelligence in risk management. The discussion with Gaby Kabbert (Regis24) and André Heyden (cAI/coeo) made clear how AI applications are already transforming the credit industry today.
Conclusion and Outlook
Prof. Dr. Christoph Schalast summarised the key takeaways of the day and provided an outlook on the challenges ahead for the industry.
The BKS Management Day 2026 was held with the kind support of Regis24.
