Commentary

The new BRICS bank and its implications for Asia

In the recently concluded 5th BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa proposals for a new BRICS led development bank were floated and discussed. While the summit failed to finalize plans on the proposed bank’s operations and structure, a ‘broad consensus’ has emerged within the BRICS nations for the need of an alternate multi-lateral development agency operating outside the ambit of the World Bank and its sister agencies.

Commentary

The new BRICS bank and its implications for Asia

Commentary

What Asian banks need to know about customers' trust and fair treatment (Part 1)

Even though the principles of financial services consumer protection have been around in Asia for a number of years, there seems to be little desire to embrace the concepts of fair treatment as a strategic tool to reduce the risk of poor customer outcomes.

Commentary

There's no stopping Asian bank's digitalisation

When it comes to Asia, digitalisation is crucial for businesses to succeed. No matter what the industry, sector or location, companies must be both online and mobile to deliver the experience their customers expect.

Commentary

Privatising money in Asia

Many commentators have pointed out the circle of money that is quantitative easing and which has been responsible, ultimately, for the record highs observed this year of the Dow Jones and FTSE equity indices. Central banks print money, which is used to buy government bonds.

Commentary

Six elements of a successful mobile wallet strategy for financial institutions

Mobile wallets will be the next battleground among businesses from various sectors – including financial institutions (FIs) in the fight for ownership of the consumer relationship. 2012 witnessed the introduction of myriad mobile wallet trials, and the mobile wallet wars will only continue to grow in 2013 and beyond.

Commentary

The evolution of ATM technology in India

A lot has been said about ATM Technology in Asian Banking and Finance. The idea of self-service in retail banking developed through independent and simultaneous efforts in Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Commentary

3 practical steps Asian banks can take to respond to regulatory change

The ongoing Libor scandal is one of the most serious breaches of control in an industry where risk and compliance failures are routinely front page news.

Commentary

Exploring financial accessibility for SMEs

According to ADB's recent news release showing that a gap of some USD 425 billion between importers and exporters among developing countries is to be facilitated in 2011.

Commentary

Taiwan becoming a local hub for RMB settlement and trading

Two days before the Singapore's announcement, financial institutions in Taiwan formally launched their RMB business after signing currency clearing agreements with Bank of China's Taipei branch.

Commentary

How Asian banks can migrate efficiently to EMV chip-based cards

Those of us who closely follow developments in the banking industry would know that the Association of Banks Singapore mandated last year that banks must implement chip-based technology in ATM and debit Cards by 2014. It is a move designed to protect the end-user and retain confidence in the banking system.

Commentary

Does mandatory margining of non-cleared swaps make sense for Asia?

The Asian banking community is anxiously following the debate around the BCBS/IOSCO proposed mandatory margining of non-cleared swaps that began with the publication of Margin Requirements for Non-Centrally Cleared Derivatives in July 2012 and has been followed up by a near final “Second Consultative Paper on Margin Requirements for Non-Centrally Cleared Derivatives”, published in February 2013.

Commentary

Why you should now consider working for an Asian bank

There is a common misconception that there is a huge difference in pace and culture between Asian and foreign multinational banks. However, with the tables turned post global financial crisis, some Asian banks have aggressively expanded, invested in product suites and platforms, and hired some strong foreign talent – leading to a strong competitive edge over foreign banks. With Asia being the key driver of economic growth across the world, now may be a good time to consider opportunities in an Asian bank.

Commentary

11Cs for better credit analysis in Asia

Loan default is a universal phenomenon associated with all types of business enterprises. However, loan default in case of banks has special significance because extending of credit is almost the exclusive business of banking institutions.

Commentary

3 main drivers of cash pooling in Asia Pacific

New bank services and advanced technology enables treasurers to implement multi-currency, multi-country and multi-bank cash pooling in Asia. This article discusses why treasurers should invest in cash pooling to save money.

Commentary

The impact of currency appreciation on trade performance in Asia

For a long period of time, Yuan’s exchange rate has been on the agenda in the large trade deficit regions, such as the U.S.A. and Europe (see Table 1). The U.S.A. has been arguing for long time that China has kept currency valuations at artificially low levels, favoring Chinese manufacturing exports harming this way the manufacturing industry in the U.S.A.

Commentary

Singapore driving Indonesian banking expansion

Singapore has long been considered the epicentre of wealth management and financial services for Asia, and to a greater extent the globe. However an up and coming South East Asian country is quickly catching up to the diminutively sized island nation to become a financial powerhouse in the region…

Commentary

Why there is no fair exchange of value in Asian banks' mass affluent segment

A few months ago during a course that I did for a group of South Korean bankers, there was a moment where the conversation turned round to what kind of special perks and benefits were given to the South Korean bank customer who had more money than the average retail customer.

Commentary

Commentary

Thought Leadership Centre

Most Read

Resource Center

Print Issue

Awards

Events

Videos

Partner Sites