The Portuguese Development Bank (BPF) has launched Fomento.AI, an internal AI platform to boost how well things run, accuracy, security, and staying compliant. Tiago Mateus, the Chief Technology and Operations Officer, said that the tool lets workers search one place for all kinds of information—documents, procedures, guides, and outside publications—and get quick summaries and analyses in just seconds.
“The big win with this tool is that it can interact: you ask a question and get answers that know the situation fast,” Mateus said. Right now, Fomento.AI is being tested with “Power Users” to get their thoughts, which have been really positive so far. It will be rolled out to everyone later.
The platform was created with Glintt and uses OpenAI engines. It didn't cost too much to put in place because the bank knew what it wanted and had clear instructions from the beginning. The plan is to add other engines, like ChatGPT, once the licenses are secured.
Mateus pointed out that this AI thing goes hand in hand with BPF’s focus on cybersecurity. Sensitive banking and employee data stays safe in a controlled space to cut down on risks. “Putting money into AI without strong cybersecurity would be risky,” he said.
The BPF team is also getting employees ready to use AI with tutorials and training. Mateus mentioned that knowing how to write prompts will become a key skill in many industries. While it’s not a must-have when hiring, being good with digital tools is a big plus.
Looking ahead, the bank is focusing on five key things: solid infrastructure, a great customer experience, doing things well, being able to change and move fast, and staying secure and compliant. This includes automating some things that are done by hand, making the most of the cloud, and starting a new online spot for businesses.
On the bigger economic picture, Mateus said that Portugal needs a gigafactory and that ongoing cybersecurity investments are super important.
With this new way of doing things, BPF has seen a culture shift, jumping from €500 million annual output in 2024 to over €6 billion. This is because they’ve improved how they work, adopted private-sector management methods, and are focused on results.
“AI will totally change how we work,” Mateus said. “Going from just searching to talking with an AI tool changes how fast and how deeply people can get to information. It's a huge change, no doubt.”
Staffing: BPF has 232 employees, and around 650 in the larger group.
Fomento.AI makes BPF a leader in putting together AI, cybersecurity, and going digital, setting an example for how to use internal AI in industries with lots of rules.
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