Central Banking Learning Week at CEF: Payments, Supervision, and Data Science
In April, we had the pleasure of bringing together colleagues from central banks and financial supervisory authorities across South East and East Europe for an intensive and rewarding week of learning. As part of our Central Banking learning program, supported by Banka Slovenije, we delivered three back-to-back events that created a dynamic, connected learning experience. We moved from forward-looking discussions on policy and innovation, to hands-on supervisory practice, and finally into data-driven experimentation, reflecting the evolving skillset required in current central banking.
We started with the Data Science Hackathon, which took place in Ljubljana from 8 to 10 April 2026. Before meeting in Ljubljana, participants had already completed an online learning phase, where they built a solid foundation in Python programming and data analysis. This preparation set the stage for the hackathon, where teams worked intensively with real-world credit risk datasets to develop models, estimate probability of default, and translate data into practical insights for financial institutions. The week concluded with final presentations, where the winning team, “The Coding Gurus” (Ajda Pernuš, Banka Slovenije, Kristiana Lesničar, Croatian National Bank, Radomir Yovchev, Bulgarian National Bank, and Nadiia Shapovalenko, National Bank of Ukraine) impressed with their structured approach, strong analytical work, and clear communication under pressure.
Alongside this, we hosted two parallel workshops from 14 to 16 April in Ljubljana, each addressing key dimensions of central banking practice. In the Innovation in Payments workshop, participants explored how payment systems and financial market infrastructures are evolving, from instant payments and interoperability challenges to open banking, fintech developments, and central bank digital currencies. Discussions also addressed crypto-assets, fraud risks, and the importance of maintaining trust and resilience in rapidly changing payment ecosystems.
At the same time, the On-Site Supervision workshop focused on strengthening supervisory practice through hands-on case work and peer exchange. Participants worked through methodologies for inspections, including governance assessments and evaluations of credit, liquidity, and operational risk. Special attention was given to emerging risks such as cyber resilience and anti-fraud capabilities, as well as to translating supervisory findings into clear and effective reporting. Across all sessions, the exchange of regional experience played a key role in grounding European supervisory frameworks in day-to-day practice.
For more details and insights across all three events, explore the digital story.