How the AI Hackathon at Bereke Bank went: 48 hours of ideas, code, and solutions

The internal Bereke AI Hack hackathon, which is still being discussed in the bank’s IT community, became a powerful catalyst for the development of AI initiatives within Bereke Bank. 81 participants, 18 teams, and 48 hours filled with ideas, challenges, and genuine team magic. Over two days, participants worked on real-world tasks related to the application of AI tools and technologies, sought unconventional approaches to familiar processes, and enhanced team collaboration.

“AI is no longer just a promising technology; it has become a driver of transformation across the entire development industry. At Bereke Bank, we see AI as a key factor in changing approaches to solving business challenges. Therefore, during the hackathon, we set a specific goal—to test hypotheses on applying AI in the bank’s real-world processes.”

The hackathon’s objectives went far beyond a typical competition.

Organizers aimed not only to promote the use of AI within the bank but also to test hypotheses regarding its application in solving real business challenges. The focus was also on developing teamwork, increasing employee engagement and motivation, scaling promising solutions, and, most importantly, identifying new leaders and talents within the Bereke Bank team.

Where the case ideas came from

The case topics were far from abstract. On the contrary, they emerged from real business and operational requests of the bank, precisely where the need for technological change is most felt.

Teams worked on tasks that already require process transformation:
— AI Copilot for the Contact Center — inspired by operator feedback indicating a lack of support during complex customer interactions
— AI Assistant for Currency Control and Compliance — based on observations of routine, labor-intensive tasks in the legal department
— Anti-Fraud Model for Lending — addressing risk management challenges in combating fraud in lending.

The hackathon was not just a game of ideas but a true working platform: what participants worked on could end up in production tomorrow.

48 hours of AI and concentration

The hackathon lasted 48 hours—participants searched for ideas, debated, coded, tested hypotheses, consulted with mentors, and prepared final pitches. Teams were supported by 17 mentors, including technical leads and business managers from Bereke Bank. Their task was not to provide ready-made solutions but to guide, maintain focus, and prevent teams from overcomplicating their approaches.

“The mentor team was well-balanced, covering both business and technical aspects. At check-in points, we were present—helping teams stay on course, providing feedback, and sharing expertise. In the final stage, when pitch preparation was underway, we shifted focus to packaging the idea: how to present it effectively to capture attention and convey the core concept.”

Ilya Evteev, Lead of the Generate AI Division

Final team solutions were tested against real cases and validated by jury members. Technology was important, but so were the idea, business value, logical approach, and the ability to argue one’s case.

The hackathon gained special significance because three Managing Directors of the bank served on the main jury—highlighting that the event had not only internal but also strategic value for Bereke Bank.

Prize Fund

Unlike many hackathons where prizes are given in the form of certificates, at the Bereke AI Hack, teams received real money.

The total prize fund amounted to 10,500,000 tenge, serving as a strong incentive for genuine competition:

— 1st place — 2,000,000 tenge
— 2nd place — 1,000,000 tenge
— 3rd place — 500,000 tenge.

Additionally, teams received special awards from Yandex Cloud partners—the cloud provider from which organizers rented computing resources and the platform for hackathon participants:

— “Unconventional Perspective” — for originality of approach
— “Creativity Without Borders” — for bold, unconventional ideas
— Best Pitch — for the most impactful and convincing presentation.

“This hackathon was a real challenge for our team. We came with an idea, caffeine, and a bit of anxiety, and left with a working prototype and victory. It was difficult, sometimes sleepless, but the experience was invaluable for us.

One of us built an AI pipeline for contract analysis, someone else set up the backend and frontend, someone researched laws and wrote prompts, and prepared the presentation. In the end, the whole team presented together, even connecting a participant online for the Q&A session. We really gave it our all. And it was worth it.”

Kanykei Tynybekova, Project Manager in the AI Transformation Department and member of the Berlin team—winners of one of the cases at Bereke AI Hack

“We initially came just to ‘take a look’—the idea appeared spontaneously, and the team formed through a Telegram chat that organizers specifically created to help find participants and simplify team assembly. No one knew each other, we changed the case at the last minute, but everyone contributed: someone kept track of time, someone coded, someone boosted morale. As inexperienced Gen Z members, we came for team energy and new experience, and left with third place and lifelong emotions. This was our first hackathon, and it certainly won’t be the last.”

Kamila Akramova, Acquiring Methodologist, member of Team #404, which took third place at Bereke AI Hack

Why This Matters

The AI hackathon demonstrated that innovation lives within a company—if you create the right environment for it. Openness to experimentation, access to technology, leadership support, and a bit of healthy competition—all of this created a system where ideas quickly turned into prototypes.

“I have participated in hackathons myself, and in our AI hackathon, it was especially valuable for me to see how employees solve real bank challenges and propose solutions that can be implemented with minimal effort. This hackathon was not just about code; it was about areas we don’t encounter daily. And precisely here, AI proved to be more relevant than ever.”

Nikita Baev, Head of Frontend Division and Jury Member of Bereke AI Hack

Team Building, Leisure, and Atmosphere

Bereke AI Hack was not just about ideas, code, and pitches—it was a true weekend filled with community spirit and support.

Teams could not only work but also recharge: rest zones, coffee corners, and an AI photo booth, where participants could capture their team spirit in the style of future technology, were organized specifically for attendees.

The hackathon was accompanied by an entertainment program: interactive games, quizzes, an after-party, as well as pre-case seminars and Q&A sessions held even before the start. All of this helped participants better understand the cases, assemble strong teams, and simply feel that they were part of something bigger.

What’s Next

All presented solutions will be handed over to the teams responsible for the corresponding areas—they will enter the backlog for further development and, upon successful validation, implementation into real-world processes.

“This hackathon showed that Bereke Bank has not just ideas—we have people ready to bring them to fruition. We are launching not only AI products but also a culture where knowledge, courage, and support are the main fuel. Bereke AI Hack became more than just a technological experiment. We created a driving force that is already changing the approach to challenges and opening up a new future within the bank. If you’re still wondering whether to hold an internal hackathon—here is your answer.”

Narkess Meiramgali, DevRel