How Lovćen Banka Modernised Its HR Operations, Improved Efficiency, and Strengthened Compliance with Gecko HRM

​Lovćen Banka, established in August 2014, has rapidly evolved into a prominent financial institution in Montenegro. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, the bank has expanded from three initial branches in Podgorica, Bar, and Kotor to a network of sixteen branches and counters across the country, with more than 200 employees.

Over the past year and a half, they have undergone a full-scale business transformation – reshaping their brand perception, optimising processes, and enhancing employee satisfaction. These efforts have directly contributed to a growing client base and strengthened market position.

They sought a comprehensive HR solution that would streamline their operations while adhering to strict security and compliance requirements. With a strong emphasis on security layers, audit trails, and event monitoring, the bank needed a robust system to support HR administration, performance management, recruitment, and employee engagement.

The Challenge: Limited abilities

Before implementing Gecko HRM, Lovćen Bank faced significant challenges with a basic system that offered only limited HR functionalities. Core HR data was fragmented across multiple applications, leading to inefficiencies, inconsistent records, and a lack of visibility into their workforce.

They began searching for a new solution that would:

• Streamline HR operations
• Improve data accuracy
• Provide a better experience for both the HR team and employees
• Automate key HR processes
• Ensure compliance
• Support their growing workforce with scalable features

They chose Gecko HRM because it fulfilled all of these requirements and has fully lived up to their expectations.

The Full Scope: Gecko’s Secure & Flexible Approach

Lovćen Bank partnered with Gecko HRM to implement a highly secure, flexible, and fully customised HR solution designed to streamline HR operations while meeting the bank’s strict security and compliance requirements. 

Given the complexities of managing HR processes in a regulated financial institution, the bank required a solution that would enhance efficiency, improve employee experience, and ensure full transparency in HR operations.

HR Administration & Absences

Lovćen Bank’s HR administration processes were optimised through a structured approval workflow, ensuring that all employee requests, such as absences and remote work, follow a clear, multi-step validation process. The system allows for department-specific approval layers, meaning that in some departments, only one approver is needed, while in others, multiple levels of approval are required. These custom workflows ensure compliance with internal policies, improve decision-making transparency, and reduce administrative bottlenecks.

Performance Management

Previously, Lovćen Bank did not have a formalised performance review system. With Gecko HRM, the bank implemented a framework tailored to its specific needs, bringing structure, fairness, and data-driven insights into performance evaluations. Key features include:

• Distinct evaluation levels to assess employees based on their role complexity and contributions.
• Quarterly performance reviews (as opposed to traditional annual reviews in other areas) ensure more frequent feedback and continuous improvement.
• Goal and competency-based assessments, linking employee performance to bonus calculations. The system tracks both goal achievement and competency development, ensuring a balanced and fair evaluation process that aligns with the bank’s strategic objectives.

Onboarding & Offboarding

To ensure a seamless employee journey, Gecko HRM introduced a digital onboarding and offboarding process. New hires can now access all necessary documentation, training materials, and checklists through an intuitive interface, helping them get up to speed quickly. The offboarding process ensures that departing employees complete all required steps, return company assets, and provide feedback, maintaining compliance and ensuring a smooth transition.

Recruitment & Training

Lovćen Bank’s hiring process was enhanced with a centralised recruitment system that enables HR teams to track candidates, streamline interview scheduling, and manage offers efficiently. The integration of training modules allows HR to monitor employee learning progress, track completed courses, and recommend skill development programs.

HRM News & Surveys

To enhance internal communication and employee engagement, Gecko HRM introduced HRM News & Surveys. This feature allows the bank’s HR team to share important company updates, policy changes, and upcoming events, ensuring that employees stay well-informed. The integrated survey functionality enables HR to gather employee feedback, helping to shape HR policies and initiatives based on real insights.

Advanced Security Features

Given the banking sector’s strict security and compliance requirements, Gecko HRM implemented robust security measures to safeguard employee data and ensure regulatory compliance. These include:

• Single Sign-On (SSO) to provide secure and seamless access to HR systems.
• Event monitoring and audit trails, allowing HR administrators to track every action within the system, ensuring full accountability and compliance.
• Granular access controls, restricting sensitive HR data to authorised personnel only.

Through these tailored enhancements, Lovćen Bank has successfully modernised its HR operations, improved efficiency, and strengthened compliance, positioning itself as a forward-thinking employer in the Montenegrin banking sector.