CIBs advised to create ‘nerve centers’ and ‘no regret moves’ against risks

Banks should ensure organisation readiness and identify four to five elements that matter most.

Corporate and investment banks (CIBs) can improve their profits by 20% to 30% compared to the baseline by adopting a four-tier plan for “strategic agility”, one of which is responding better to risks and in particular, geopolitical uncertainty.

CIB leaders are advised to identify “four or five elements that matter most for their franchise based on sectoral and client exposure,” according to a McKinsey & Co. report published in December 2025.

“An initial focus for CIBs could be on ensuring organizational readiness. One way to do this would be to establish or build on an existing “nerve center” that monitors country actions, sector and customer activities, and any required shifts to models,” the management consulting firm said in the report.

Banks are also advised to identify immediate new product needs or assess elevated risk exposures by segment or sub-businesses.

The final step is to identify “no regret” moves to manage uncertainty whilst preparing for the long term, McKinsey wrote.

“These include enabling frontline staff to have informed discussions, reconsidering their client offerings amid ongoing volatility (for example, expanding working capital lines of credit), and refreshing the current strategy given scenarios, it added.

CIB units are expected to contend with increased competition from “specialized attacker firms”, alongside geopolitical and technological risks.