Through collaboration and flexibility, we can do more
Collaboration, adaptation and support
With the agile way of working, people from different fields come together and work closely in small teams to accomplish a common goal. These groups handle each project with a gradual approach, breaking it down into short cycles, proceeding step-by-step towards the ultimate result. At the centre of the process lies the feedback from our clients and stakeholders, internal or external. Based on this feedback, the teams make improvements or change their course, if required.
We have been setting up agile teams since 2018 for the most important projects related to the overall customer digital experience. Many other groups started adopting this model, even to update internal process. Nowadays, the main Alpha Bank units have adapted their work model to the agile philosophy.
Our agile teams bring results
The agile mentality is now a part of our daily lives and it delivers results. Using the agile way of working, we have created advanced services and products, such as:
- Prepaid bleep card. The first smartphone app in Greek banking for issuing a prepaid card online.
- Retail Onboarding. Updated process for new retail clients to open their first account with Alpha Bank and get a debit card and e-Banking credentials, either online or at a branch.
- Representation renewal. Updated process, either online through e-Banking for Businesses or at a branch.
- Digital Business Onboarding. Online process for new business customers to open an account and get e-Banking credentials.
- MyAlpha Quick Loan. Online consumer loan through e-Banking, without supporting documents, assessed and disbursed on the spot.
We are expanding agile thinking and agile working
To build and expand the agile mindset, we are developing different tools and actions.Agile Academy
The Agile Academy aims at fostering a new flexible approach to working, i.e. the agile approach. It is addressed to everyone and includes:
- Digital material (e-Learnings, books, articles, case studies).
- Masterclasses on specific topics, with interactive exercises and workshops.
- Educational events for knowledge sharing and discussions among participants and speakers.
- Mentoring.
Agile Bankers Community
The enthusiastic community of Agile Bankers aims to inform about and spark interest in the agile mindset. It is an open community, sharing experiences and practices through regular meet-ups, and aiming to better apply the agile way of working in our daily lives.
It already numbers more than 120 members from different Alpha Bank departments, divisions and branches.
Agile squads
To facilitate this new way of working, we form cross-functional teams that are organised in squads. In this manner, multiple teams work together to accomplish a common goal. This way squad members learn about the agile way of working in practice.
Management participation
The agile mindset is for everyone and we want to spread it across all levels.
We develop educational programmes for our mid-level and senior executives, and organise reverse mentoring programmes for our top management with our Agile Bankers.
Meet the Alpha Bank Agile Bankers
“I was lucky enough to be a member and Product Owner in the first Alpha Bank agile team, and learn from scratch, along with the other team members, about this new way of working, which has truly transformed the way I think and act.
As members of an agile team, we become responsible for our project, actively participate in all stages of creation and development, address client needs comprehensively and learn from our teammates.
With the experience I have now gained as a Product Owner in the Bank’s agile customer journeys, I feel that the agile way of working is a must for customer service and for the employees’ day-to-day life. As an Agile Banker I want to help as many colleagues as I can to understand the merit of agile thinking and agile working in practice, and put it to use every day!”
Sophia is a Senior Product Owner at Alpha Bank. Learn more on her LinkedIn page.
“Participating in the agile teams of the Retail Onboarding and Business Onboarding Customer Journeys, I have come to realise that there are multiple advantages and benefits in working with the agile methodology. Having as core principles the continuous improvement, collaboration, personal growth and organisation of each member within the team, and limiting complexity through transparency, continuous review and adaptation, more targets can be accomplished in less time, adding flexibility to the final product and fully meeting customer requirements.
Adopting an agile approach and way of thinking in our daily lives will undoubtedly help improve our performance, enhancing our capacity to adapt to change through productive practices and creative work.”
Panagiotis is a Project Manager at Alpha Bank. Learn more on his LinkedIn page.
“I became acquainted with agile working when I participated in the Retail Onboarding Customer Journey team. That was the start of a new and exciting journey for me, towards a completely different and modern way of working. Working closely every day with people who have different knowledge and experiences helped me expand my horizons and grow in different areas.
Moreover, with agile working, we adopt a holistic, in-depth approach towards our internal and external customers, aiming to resolve any issues, meet their actual needs, and promptly provide products and services. Given the many benefits of the agile mindset, I would like to help so that this way of thinking and working can be adopted by many more colleagues and teams within the Bank.”
Maria works in the Alpha Bank Digital Innovation & Transformation Division. Learn more on her LinkedIn page.
“I remember it like it was yesterday! Approximately 3 years ago, I became Product Owner of the Business Onboarding Customer Journey. Since then, the journey has had many destinations and stops, leading to a valuable experience! It has changed my way of thinking in my day-to-day work, adding special value to concepts such as collaboration, failure management, the significance of customer feedback, etc.
It has offered a new reality to my work; a new way of thinking, more flexible and meaningful!
On the one hand, I go to work smiling and, on the other hand, I know that we do everything we can to make sure our clients are also smiling! I would share this more within the Bank (and not just the Bank)!”
Amalia is a Senior Product Owner at Alpha Bank. Learn more on her LinkedIn page.
“I have been working in IT since 2013 and have taken on different roles over the years. My first actual contact with agile working was in 2019; it was a transitional year for me, moving from the project-oriented to the product-oriented world. I was determined to pursue the role of the Scrum Master and learn about agility and scrum in practice.
Today, I am happy to be a Product Owner for mobile retail applications at Alpha Bank, offering user-friendly solutions to our clients. I am very optimistic about the evolution of the agile way of working within the organisation, since the members of the Agile Bankers Community are very active and eager to apply everything that they learn.
The goal of all community members is to spread and apply the agile way of working. Therefore, my goal is to help my colleagues apply it within the organisation through our collaboration.”
Fotis is a Product Owner at Alpha Bank. Learn more on his LinkedIn page.
“I have a technical background and have worked for years in the Alpha Bank IT Applications Division as a developer, technical lead and solutions architect. In this capacity I participated in the agile team for the bleep prepaid card.
Experiencing this different way of working was extraordinary for me. I consider the main agile goals very important: focus on target and customer satisfaction, meaningful collaboration and teamwork, active and effective participation.
I saw that there’s a way! I’ve learned techniques that helped me accomplish my goals. It has changed me, as I’ve decided to change my career! I want to dedicate my efforts to helping others within the organisation along their agile journey, which has made my job meaningful and rewarding. I see the people I work with turn into more active, expressive and collaborative professionals. I enjoy this sense of teamwork. I am happy that the product of my team gives value to the Bank’s clients.
I would like to have the opportunity to apply the agile principles more freely and comprehensively within the organisation, share my experiences with others and learn from them.”
Iosif is a Scrum Master at Alpha Bank. Learn more on his LinkedIn page.
“At the start of 2021, in the context of the Alpha Bank training, I was fortunate enough to undertake the creation of the Agile Academy and introduce an innovative way of working to the Alpha Bank employees.
To this end, I met everyone working in agile teams within Alpha Bank and together we set up the Agile Bankers team, which forms the foundation for establishing the Academy.
Through my collaboration with the Agile Bankers and the training sessions we have co-hosted, I had the opportunity to learn about the agile methodologies and the development of an agile mindset. I am very excited because, through the Agile Academy, this is also shared with the rest of the Alpha Bank employees.”
Magda works at the Alpha Bank Human Resources Division. Learn more on her LinkedIn page.
“My first actual contact with the agile mindset came about when I started working for Alpha Bank in 2021, when I had the pleasure of meeting the Agile Bankers and taking over the coordination and development of the wider Alpha Bank Agile Community.
Through my participation and the weekly meetings of our core team, I had the opportunity to fully understand the merit and multiple benefits that the agile approaches can have on the outcome of our work.
The Agile Community is a bustling team with participants from all Bank sections, is continuously growing, and aims at familiarising its members with the agile concepts and practices, and disseminating the agile mindset within the organisation. The goal of our journey in the community is to learn more, do more, grow and find ways to apply the agile mindset, wherever and however each of us can in their respective fields, so as to do our jobs more efficiently and effectively.”
Christina works as a Talent Lead at Alpha Bank. Learn more on her LinkedIn page.