Last year saw the blockchain hype cycle reach its peak, and its disruptive influence on the global financial services industry continues to be the subject of much debate. But after a year of talking, how far has the industry progressed in turning potential into reality?
In the space of just four years, mobile payments service bKash has had a dramatic effect upon Bangladesh, bringing the unbanked into the formal economy, speeding up and simplifying the process of sending money from urban to rural areas, and even helping the country’s central bank monitor inflation levels. Stefania Palma charts its dramatic rise.
Latin American banks may lag behind their counterparts elsewhere in the world when it comes to digital innovation, but German Pugliese Bassi, co-founder and chief marketing officer at Miami-based technology provider Technisys, believes that attitudes towards technology are changing, making it the ideal time to launch a digital-only bank in the region.
The UK's Senior Managers Regime seeks to formalise responsibility for risk, yet the threat of cyber attack sits outside of traditional risk governance standards, and means that protecting against such attacks will require a rethink of the traditional 'three lines of defence' model.
Santander InnoVentures’ achievements have been built on its senior management’s engagement with new trends, new technology and new companies, as well as a healthy and good quality deal flow. Joy Macknight talks to managing partner Mariano Belinky.
As 2015 comes to an end, The Banker has brought together a group of high-profile experts in the world of finance and economic research to predict what will happen in the next 12 months. Silvia Pavoni asks them to share their views on the global economy and on what factors will shape banking in the future.