Bank Pekao adopts NCR Atleos Authentic for payment switching

Bank Pekao has adopted NCR’s Atleos Authentic platform to handle payment switching across its network, replacing parts of its existing switching infrastructure and consolidating card and account-based payment flows onto a single platform managed by NCR, the bank said. The implementation will support domestic and cross-border transactions and integrate with instant payment rails, clearing houses and card schemes in Poland.

Atleos Authentic is a payments switching and authentication engine that supports modern messaging standards and API connectivity. Bank Pekao selected the solution to standardize interfaces between its core banking systems, payment processors and external payment networks, and listed objectives of improving transaction throughput, reducing latency and simplifying operations.

The rollout will take place in phases to maintain continuity of service while migrating transaction volumes from legacy systems. Integration testing and parallel processing will be used during the transition before full production traffic moves to the new switch. The deployment includes operational tools for monitoring, dispute handling and security controls to support regulatory reporting requirements.

Bank Pekao described the project as part of a broader IT modernization effort to support customer demand for instant and digital payment services. The platform is expected to speed onboarding of payment partners and provide standardized APIs for connecting new channels and fintech services.

NCR supplies hardware and software for the financial services industry; its Atleos family includes modules for payments orchestration, core processing and integration. Atleos Authentic focuses on routing, authorization and authentication tasks that sit between customer-facing channels and settlement systems. Payment switching vendors commonly provide support for ISO 20022 messaging, tokenization and continuous availability to meet market and regulatory requirements.

Bank Pekao, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of Poland’s largest banks serving retail, corporate and institutional clients. The bank has been investing in digital capabilities and payment services to expand its product range and to comply with evolving European payment regulations and market infrastructure changes.

The implementation is expected to affect back-office operations, IT teams and partner integrations as systems are aligned with the new switching logic and interfaces. Bank Pekao and NCR will monitor performance and compliance after go-live to verify transaction integrity and service levels are maintained.