Recap: I Banking Executive Breakfast Mirai RiskTech

On October 30 of 2024, we successfully hosted the first Mirai RiskTech Executive Breakfast in Madrid—an exclusive gathering designed for senior banking executives with expertise in liquidity management, funding, interest rate risk, budgeting, and management control.

With more than 30 attendees and a full room, the event became an excellent platform to connect, reflect, and exchange insights on critical topics such as liquidity optimization, capital efficiency, and financial risk management.

Two High-Impact Roundtables

The event featured two roundtables addressing key issues for the financial sector. Moderated by our Strategic Advisor, Miguel Ángel Penabella, former Head of Market and Structural Risks at Banco Santander, both sessions brought together experts who shared valuable perspectives and critical analysis on regulatory expectations and how their implementation varies across different geographies.

In the current environment—where the previous two years have been among the most profitable for the banking industry since the 2008 crisis—the discussions have become particularly relevant. The panelists explored how the sector has navigated crises, negative interest rates, the pandemic, and ongoing uncertainty, and how these factors have reshaped profitability management and the strategic value of liquidity.

Roundtable I – Liquidity and Margin Management: A Dialogue with Commercial Networks

Panelists:

• Catalina Mejía (CFO, Banco Santander)
• Pablo Da Costa (Director of ALM, Unicaja)

This session examined the relationship between financial management areas and commercial networks. Speakers highlighted the value of liquidity embedded in banking operations and discussed the strategic use of transfer pricing to optimize internal dynamics and enhance financial performance.

Roundtable II – A Comparative View of Supervisory Expectations: What, How, and Why?

Panelists:

• Manuel Revuelta (VP Structural and Liquidity Risks , Banco Santander)
• Alex Valencia (Director of ALM, CaixaBank)

This panel focused on the impact of supervisors and regulators on liquidity, capital, and IRRBB (Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book) management. The discussion covered how regulatory requirements have evolved in recent years and emphasized the importance of maintaining ongoing dialogue with supervisors to ensure smooth implementation. The panel also addressed the challenges of managing requirements imposed at both the local (Spain) and regional (European) levels.

Key Insights

Among the main takeaways from the event, participants discussed:

• The design and strategic use of transfer pricing as a core mechanism for efficient internal operations.
• The relative value of liquidity is shaped by market conditions and each institution's specific objectives.
• Optimal capital allocation, with a focus on maximizing efficiency.
• International comparisons of regulatory expectations and their impact on financial institutions’ operations.
• The challenges of interacting with regulatory bodies and the complexity of managing requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

Acknowledgements and Looking Ahead

We extend our sincere appreciation to all panelists, attendees, and partners who contributed to making this first executive breakfast a resounding success. Creating spaces like this is essential for discussing highly relevant and timely issues and for helping financial institutions navigate an increasingly complex environment.

At Mirai RiskTech, we remain committed to our mission of helping banks shorten the path toward excellence in risk management and regulatory compliance.

Explore our events calendar to join us at the next session: mirairisktech.com/events.