UniCredit, one of Europe’s leading pan-European banking groups, Accenture and IBM have announced a long-term strategic collaboration that establishes the technology foundation supporting UniCredit’s growth across the thirteen European markets in which the Group operates.

The companies will work to design a new operating model for banking technology—one that gives UniCredit greater control over its technology evolution while combining the resilience of mission-critical systems with the flexibility of modern digital platforms, enabling continuous innovation.

As part of the agreement, Accenture will acquire from IBM the majority stake in the joint venture that currently manages a significant portion of UniCredit’s technology infrastructure. Additionally, IBM will provide modernised technology platforms to UniCredit, including IBM Z, software, and consulting. This agreement is the beginning of a multi-year programme to enhance the bank’s underlying systems and operating model.

Today’s news is part of UniCredit’s broader growth strategy and is intended to set a reference model for the next generation of banking technology in Europe, enabling faster innovation and scaling AI capabilities across the Group.

“Technology is a strategic enabler of UniCredit's growth and transformation,” said Ali Khan, Group Digital & Information Officer, UniCredit. “Our partnership with Accenture and IBM marks an important milestone in building the next generation of our banking platform—combining the resilience our customers expect with the agility to innovate faster and scale artificial intelligence responsibly across the Group. Together, we are creating the technology foundations that will strengthen our competitiveness, support sustainable growth and deliver lasting value for our customers, colleagues and shareholders."

“This partnership demonstrates how technology can become a strategic growth engine,” said Mauro Macchi, Chief Executive Officer of Accenture EMEA. “By bringing together a pan-European footprint, strong execution capabilities and mission-critical technology, we are creating a reinvention model built to scale across markets. Together with UniCredit, we aim to accelerate the adoption of cloud, data and artificial intelligence to unlock new sources of value, create greater value for customers, people and communities.”

"Our enhanced collaboration with UniCredit, including both our technology and consulting capabilities, reflects a shared commitment to innovation and transformation," said Ana Paula Assis, Senior Vice President and Chair IBM EMEA & APAC. "By combining modern infrastructure with UniCredit’s hybrid cloud architecture, we are helping to establish a technology foundation that can support UniCredit’s long-term growth while delivering better experiences for its customers."