"The objective is clear: to recover efficiently and ensure the rigorous management of public funds, strengthening our capacity to finance the economy with impact."
Marco Monteiro, Coordinating Director for Credit Monitoring and Recovery, BPF
Credit management is the first line of resilience of the financial system.
Based on two core pillars – monitoring and recovery – it is a fundamental area in any financial institution.
In commercial banks, monitoring and recovering credit means preventing defaults, reducing losses and rigorously managing provisions, impairments and NPLs (Non-Performing Loans). When this discipline works effectively, both results and balance sheets are strengthened, enabling greater capacity to finance the economy.
In a promotional bank such as Banco Português de Fomento, where the objective is not profit maximisation, the ambition is even clearer: to ensure sustainability and protect public funds. A culture of prevention, proximity and credit rigour translates into more viable projects, greater impact and lasting trust.
This is how we combine public mission with prudence, ensuring that every euro invested goes further.
The Banco Português de Fomento Group is implementing a strategic plan that foresees significant investment in the area of credit monitoring and recovery. This is a decisive commitment to strengthening resilience and ensuring sustainability.
Technology will be the driving force behind change, enabling enhanced preventive capacity, process optimisation, strengthened compliance and more informed decision-making, with measurable operational impact and improved experience for all stakeholders. Particular emphasis is placed on the implementation of a new early warning system, which will enable robust monitoring and the anticipation of defaults.
In credit recovery, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) stands as a transformational pillar: the use of machine learning algorithms will enable the development of predictive models and tailored solutions for each client; the use of AI agents will allow the automation of repetitive tasks, freeing up teams to focus on higher value-added activities.
The use of multi-channel communication, combined with specialised proposals through client segmentation, will enable greater effectiveness in interactions and improved recovery rates.
The integration of AI in any institution brings exponential gains in productivity and scale; however, it also brings significant challenges and therefore requires robust governance. The EU Artificial Intelligence Regulation classifies the application of AI in financial contexts as high-risk, making human oversight, traceability and model explainability essential, as well as continuous monitoring with rigorous decision-quality standards.
Through these investments, we seek consistent gains in operational efficiency, scalability, increased time dedicated by teams to client solutions, greater speed and the consequent improvement in recovery rates, as well as a reduction in NPLs.
