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- Mastercard served as the Gold Sponsor of IBF 2025, contributing global expertise across AI, cybersecurity, instant payments, and digital transformation.
- Company leaders shared insights on AI-first banking, hyper-personalization, data readiness, and the rising impact of agentic commerce.
- Mastercard experts led multiple panels, including dedicated sessions on AI readiness, Agent Pay, and resilient digital ecosystems.
- Delegates engaged with Mastercard’s interactive Priceless Experience booth, showcasing how technology and emotion come together to create meaningful moments.
Mastercard participated as the Gold Sponsor of the IX International Banking Forum (IBF) in Baku, contributing expert perspectives, thought leadership, and advanced payments insights to one of the region’s most influential financial events.
As part of the official program, Mastercard speakers led and joined several key sessions focused on global banking trends, digital transformation, payments innovation, cybersecurity, and the accelerating impact of AI on financial services. Mastercard’s participation reflected the company’s commitment to supporting the evolution of a secure, innovative, and efficient financial ecosystem across the region.
Opening Panel — Reliable, Secure and Sustainable Banking
Mastercard was represented by Kutay Ak (Senior Principal, Services Business Development – EEMEA), who joined industry leaders to discuss how technology, digital tools, and advanced analytics strengthen the resilience and sustainability of modern banking models.
Kutay Ak highlighted the rapid modernization of Azerbaijan’s financial ecosystem, emphasizing the expansion of digital payments, open banking progress, and the growth of fintech channels.
“Azerbaijan’s financial sector is moving forward at an impressive pace,” noted Kutay Ak. “Mastercard is proud to support this journey by bringing global innovation, strong partnerships, and future-ready digital infrastructure.”
Emerging Trends Shaping the Future in Banking
Moderated by Hamid Salamlı (Director, Business Development, Mastercard), the session brought together Mastercard experts to examine the technological and structural shifts redefining the banking landscape.
Eren Özkan shared a regional perspective on Banking Without Borders, highlighting how AI-driven personalization, digital identity, and embedded finance are reshaping customer expectations and accelerating cross-market integration.
Fatih Alali expanded the conversation with a practical view on From Hype to Impact, focusing on how banks can move from experimentation to scalable AI adoption by aligning data, governance, and business value.
The discussion was complemented by insights on the Azerbaijani market, emphasizing how regional banks are leveraging these global trends to drive the next phase of growth.
Inclusive and Intelligent: Reinventing Everyday Payments
The session featured a keynote by Dirim Altunbaş (Digital Lead, Turkey & Azerbaijan, Mastercard), who introduced Mastercard’s vision for Agentic Commerce. He outlined how AI-powered agents are beginning to influence purchasing decisions and reshape everyday transactions, and how Mastercard Agent Pay brings trust, transparency, and authentication into these emerging digital journeys.
Smarter Banking: AI, Data, and the Next Wave of Automation
In a dedicated session on AI readiness, Ilker Kurtuluş (Director, Advisors & Consulting Services, Strategy & Transformation) detailed the steps financial institutions must take to move from fragmented data environments toward scalable, enterprise-level AI adoption. He emphasized the critical role of structured data, strong governance, and well-designed transformation roadmaps.
Cybersecurity & Fraud Prevention
On the second day, Reşat Kökçen (Director, Services Business Development, Mastercard) addressed the rising importance of cyber resilience. His session focused on how banks can strengthen protection across their digital ecosystems by leveraging advanced authentication, global threat intelligence, and proactive risk-management tools.
Interactive Priceless Experience Stand
Throughout the forum, delegates engaged with Mastercard’s interactive Priceless Experience booth, which illustrated how innovation and design can elevate customer engagement. Through immersive storytelling and digital interaction, the installation showcased Mastercard’s “Priceless” philosophy—highlighting that even as technology evolves, meaningful, human-centered experiences remain at the core of modern financial services.
Mastercard’s Commitment
Mastercard’s presence at IBF underscored the company’s ongoing collaboration with banks, fintechs, and industry partners to accelerate digital transformation across the region. Through global expertise and local partnerships, Mastercard continues to support the development of a more connected, secure, and future-ready financial ecosystem.
About Mastercard
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
www.mastercard.com
