Could Google revolutionise the world of online banking? Its involvement as a platform is looking increasingly likely.
Some banks are making efforts to engage with people through virtual worlds and social networks on the internet but their knowledge of this area is still limited – and being excluded by corporate firewalls does not help, writes Chris Skinner.
Online banking is struggling to keep pace with web trends and losing the lucrative social networking market as a result. Some players, however, are on the verge of a breakthrough. Michelle Price reports.
The rapid growth of Pakistan’s United Bank Limited has created a complex IT infrastructure. Michelle Price talks to head of core banking Adnan Masood about UBL’s innovative refit of its technology systems.
A new report asks whether commercial pressures will change the identity of the microfinance sector. David Lascelles looks at its findings.
As the Islamic finance sector becomes more competitive, innovation will be a key differentiator for attracting customers, writes Joe DiVanna.
The T-Charter, a code of best practice for transition managers, was unveiled at the end of 2007, but even before the ink was dry it appeared that it did not go far enough. Frances Maguire looks into whether the industry is better or worse off.
A recent encounter with a business banker proved that, as far as financial services are concerned, the days of human relationships and judgement calls are over. The computerised process is king. By Chris Skinner.
Improved education and better living standards mean employees are returning to India, transforming the country’s outsourced financial services. Brian Caplen reports on how the industry has adapted.
India’s i-flex Solutions has grown into a market leader in the financial services industry since its launch in 1992. Founder R Shanx Ravisankar tells Stephen Timewell of the challenges that lie ahead for the software provider acquired by Oracle in 2005.
Fortis and HSBC provide two examples of the onward march of automated banking, a phenomenon that is also the subject of a Europewide survey by Fujitsu. Michael Imeson reports.
The rapid take off of prepaid cards in the US last year looks set to be replicated in Europe in 2008. Stephen Timewell and Wendy Atkins report on the payment industry’s ‘next big thing’.
Prime brokers are investing in smarter systems to manage risk and collateral across multiple asset classes. Frances Maguire looks at how far this ability to mark-to-market in real-time will go.
Ruth Emery assesses the likelihood of a merger between the Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai stock exchanges.
It is imperative that banks keep up to date with technology. Upgrading core systems is a multi-stage process, best approached with a transformation partner, says Rajashekara V Maiya, product manager at Infosys Technologies.
Technology is increasingly becoming a big part of mergers and acquisitions, and having a clear view of the target operations model is paramount, says Heather McKenzie.
Retail banking is predicted to remain a driving force, though it will have to adapt as customer needs change. But how a bank utilises the technology at its disposal could be crucial to its survival, says Michael Imeson.
Catering for a shifting demographic with tailor-made products and services is now firmly on the agenda, says Sanat Rao, vice-president of Infosys Technologies.
It is high time that retail banks stopped thinking of electronic channels as extensions of the branch and started thinking about the electronic structure as the foundation upon which all the channels, including the branch, are built. By Chris Skinner.
Banks and vendors are joining forces to work together to integrate their skill sets and bring new offerings to the market. Alan Duerden looks at some of the partnerships that were forged in 2007 to see how mutually beneficial this trend can be.