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Designing a GenAI assistant for a private banker: NEOMA students take on the challenge

Published on 28/08/2026

At the end of June, our students were set a very specific challenge: to design an artificial intelligence assistant capable of supporting a private banker without ever replacing their expertise – and to do so within a 48-hour window. Here’s a look back at this hackathon dedicated to generative AI.   

What is the context ? 

Digit-Hacking is a multidisciplinary hackathon organised for students on two work-study programmes: MSc Finance and Big Data and MS/MSc International Financial Analysis. The exercise was developed jointly by NEOMA and its partner Finaxys, a consulting firm specialising in innovative technologies and financial engineering. This was the first time that the company, which also sponsors the NEOMA Foundation, has worked with students on Digit-Hacking.

What is the challenge ? 

Finaxys put a key strategic question to the students: how can generative AI strengthen the role of a private banker without ever replacing human expertise? Participants were given 48 hours to design a responsible GenAI assistant capable of helping a private banker prepare for client meetings, analyse clients' financial situations, identify opportunities, personalise recommendations and monitor the client relationship. The AI needed to support the advisor and enhance the quality of the client relationship, meaning it had to reflect the real day‑to‑day work of private bankers.

To achieve their goal, the students had to address the key challenges inherent in any AI project in financial services: regulatory compliance, data confidentiality, model explainability, accountability and ethics. 

What are the benefits for students? 

This Digit‑Hacking challenge helps prepare NEOMA students for the finance roles of the future. It also gives them the opportunity to test out their skills on a concrete problem, factoring in the technological and ethical challenges facing the financial sector. At the same time, it develops their ability to devise solutions that are innovative, responsible and value-creating.

Professor Jian Wu shares his perspective (Professor of Finance, Head of MSc Finance and Big Data)

“This partnership is a clear expression of NEOMA’s ambition to offer our students learning experiences that are closely aligned with the realities and challenges of today’s finance industry.

More than the prize itself, the students benefited from a fantastic opportunity: to be invited to Finaxys and gain an inside look at careers in financial‑services transformation consulting, financial engineering and cutting‑edge technologies. It was a valuable experience that will directly build on the lessons learned during the hackathon.

Thanks to Pierre Bittner’s guidance, the winning team, led by Maxime Maherault, took home the top prize. Congratulations to them!”

Associated programme

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