The past year has been especially successful for ING Hubs Slovakia, the expert hub of global banking, for a variety of reasons: it marked the inception of numerous successful projects and a period of growth both locally and globally.
Growth
The year 2023 was characterized by significant growth for ING Hubs Slovakia. This growth was evident both quantitatively, with the addition of 200 new colleagues, and qualitatively, with the creation of more expert roles. The hub in Slovakia is increasingly becoming important within the ING bank. Sandra Balazikova, Head of HR, emphasized the centrality of their people, stating, “Our people are at the core of our operations. When the demand arose for more senior positions, we launched an ‘Expert Accelerator Program’ to give them the opportunity to further develop themselves. In other words, we created a program to build and improve capabilities of our colleagues for global expert roles. Employees have become experts, working on global projects with increased influence and responsibilities.” She also highlighted the hub’s expertise in ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC), which is crucial for the Wholesale Bank, all managed from the Bratislava hub. KYC is today a significant element in the fight against financial crime and money laundering.
Balance
Finding balance and prioritizing wellbeing are essential for leading fulfilling lives. “We do many initiatives which help our people to stay balanced, from mental health workshops, physical trainings in the office, to online breathing sessions. Wellbeing is a significant focus for ING, with its roots in the Netherlands known for emphasizing work-life balance, or as they refer to it, 'work-play' balance,” said Andrej Orogvani, COE. “We support our people in their individual pursuits, which isn't just our tagline ‘do your thing’, but a philosophy we embody." ING Hubs Slovakia has leveraged this commitment to wellbeing by collaborating with 'Nevyhoreni', a Forbes podcast, to create a special series called 'Wellbeing at Work'. With eight episodes already released and more to come, this series offers valuable insights into fostering wellbeing in the workplace.
Talent
Among the company's various projects, the 'Talent Garden' internship program stands out. This innovative year-long program is a collaboration between four Dutch companies operating in Slovakia, with ING Hubs Slovakia being one of them. It provides students with the unique chance to gain practical knowledge and experience by rotating among these companies. According to Andrej Orogvani, "This is an excellent opportunity for students to work on real-life projects under the guidance of industry experts and immerse themselves in diverse team cultures. And let’s not forget the best part: it’s a paid internship.”
As an expert hub of global banking,ING Hubs Slovakia is an integral part of ING, a global bank with a strong European presence, operating in over 40 countries with more than 57,000 employees. Since its establishment in 2009, ING Hubs Slovakia has grown to a company with 1400 employees, specializing in assisting customers with daily banking needs and ensuring the safety and security of clients and the bank.
