Forbes has recognized 20 exceptional women in the finance industry. Two of them are from Banka CREDITAS

The world of finance is no longer a solely male domain. Testimony to this are two ladies from Banka CREDITAS who were listed in the first selection of twenty remarkable women in the Czech banking and finance world “Women in Finance 2024” by Forbes magazine. The CEO of Banka CREDITAS, Eva Collardová, and the Head of Retail Banking, Ivana Pícková, bring a wealth of experience coupled with innovative thinking and determination to positively transform the financial industry.

Eva Collardová
With over 20 years of experience, Eva Collardová has spent the majority of her career in the banking industry. She served as Chief Financial Officer at Volksbank, held various management roles at Commerzbank, was the CFO for the Czech Republic and Slovakia for seven years, and later managed finance operations across Central Europe.

Since October 2021, Eva has held the role of the CFO for the CREDITAS Group. In July 2023, she was appointed as the CEO and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors at Banka CREDITAS, making her one of the most senior women leaders in the Czech banking industry.

To her, this year has had one primary focus: the legal merger of Banka CREDITAS with Max banka. “We have successfully achieved this goal. I am grateful to all my colleagues who participated in this project, as it required an immense amount of work. We are currently pursuing several additional acquisitions we would like to implement at the end of this year and the first half of next year,” says the mother of two adult daughters and a teenage son.

As a graduate from the University of Economics in Bratislava and a holder of an MBA from UNYP in Prague, Eva is also excited to see how her industry is changing. “Yes, there are finally more women in the management of financial institutions. My personal advice is to confidently pursue promotions and not to be afraid to ask for help with childcare or household chores. I believe in hard work, openness to learning, and self-assurance. And not being afraid to stake your claim,” she emphasizes.

Ivana Pícková
As a member of the Board of Directors and the Head of Retail Banking at Banka CREDITAS, Ivana Pícková is responsible for the bank’s entire retail operations, i.e. the branch network, premium banking and SME clients. Additionally, she manages the full product lifecycle, from development and implementation to marketing. The merger of Banka CREDITAS with Max banka, where she has served as the CEO and the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the past two years, has also been the theme of the year for her.