Why banks must build AI model context platforms to stay competitive

As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves from a knowledge retriever into a memory-driven personal assistant, banks face a fresh competitive frontier. R...

Helen Child on trust, consent and creating a fairer financial future through open banking

As the founder of Open Banking Excellence, Helen Child has shaped the global conversation around data-sharing, financial inclusion and collaborative i...

Hong Leong Finance recognised as Best Automobile Financing Product in Asia Pacific

Hong Leong Finance, awarded Best Automobile Financing Product in Asia Pacific at The Asian Banker Awards 2025, is recognised for its API-driven digita...

Weak banks, strong solutions: The bridge bank approach in Bangladesh

A bridge bank is a temporary financial institution established by regulators to take over and manage the operations of a failing bank until a permanen...

KB Kookmin strengthens custody leadership in South Korea through client-centric innovation and operational excellence

KB Kookmin Bank outlines how it is enhancing its custody and services business through client-centric improvements, operational resilience and continu...

Deutsche Bank strengthens APAC transaction banking franchise through client-centric innovation and disciplined growth

Deutsche Bank outlines its strategy for sustainable growth in transaction banking across Asia Pacific and beyond, leveraging its European heritage, ex...

HSBC Live+ targets lifestyle spends with overseas cashback benefits

HSBC Singapore’s Live+ credit card focuses on the emerging affluent segment, offering high cashback and curated rewards in dining, shopping and ente...

AI reshapes banking, driving innovation and risk management

At the Japan Banking Innovation Conference, TAB Global unveiled key insights from the Global Excellence in Digital and Retail Finance Programme 2025, ...

UK narrows HK’s lead in RMB internationalisation

Hong Kong remains the leading offshore renminbi (RMB) centre, while London has emerged as a key player, leveraging its position as the world’s large...

HSBC Live+ recognised as best cash back credit card in Asia Pacific

HSBC Singapore’s Live+ credit card, which was recognised as the Best Cash Back Card in Asia Pacific, stands out for its lifestyle benefits, high cas...

Klarna’s AI revolution: The future of an AI-driven bank

The financial industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, with banks and fintechs integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency an...

Postal Savings Bank of China drives rural revitalisation with ‘One County, One Product’ programme

Postal Savings Bank of China leverages big data and comprehensive financial services, together with tech partner NorthKing, to better support China’...

GienTech powers global financial firms’ digital transformation with AI and next-generation infrastructure

Kuang Wenchuan, President of GienTech Research Institute, explored how artificial intelligence and next-generation digital infrastructure like its ORI...

Vietnam accelerates financial innovation on strong economic momentum

Vietnam’s banking sector is entering a new phase of transformation, fuelled by robust economic growth, demographic tailwinds, supportive regulation ...

Vietcombank, VietinBank, Cake, BIDV and TPBank recognised for excellence in wealth management, SME banking, private banking, digital and social banking in Vietnam

Vietcombank, VietinBank, Cake, BIDV and TPBank were recognised at The TAB Global Excellence in Retail Finance and Technology Innovation Vietnam Awards...

Kata.ai expands conversational AI for financial services and beyond

Indonesia’s Kata.ai evolves from a personal assistant app into a leading B2B conversational AI platform, offering multilingual voice, chat and digit...

How financial institutions can prepare for the quantum banking revolution

Quantum computing promises unparalleled speed and power in risk modelling, data analysis and security. As this technology transitions to practical app...

China's sci-tech stars hailed amid two sessions

China's technological capabilities have been gaining attention, with noteworthy developments taking place at a rapid pace. As the third sessions of th...

High-frequency banking powers seamless digital finance

As the banking industry shifts to high-frequency interactions, AI, open banking and embedded finance drive real-time services, requiring financial ins...

Strengthening the foundations of Commercial Bank of Ceylon

Under CEO Sanath Manatunge, Commercial Bank of Ceylon has maintained its position at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s banking sector, focusing on asset ...

AI agents set to replace mobile banking apps

Artificial intelligence (AI) could soon make mobile apps as outdated as bank branches after the first wave of digital innovation. Banks must streamlin...

Bank of America expands Asia Pacific transaction banking through customised solutions and technology innovation

Bank of America is expanding its transaction banking business across Asia Pacific, positioning itself as a partner for multinational corporations, fin...

Stablecoins: The next frontier in fintech and digital payments

Stablecoins are reshaping finance, bridging fiat currencies and digital assets. Initially created to counter cryptocurrency volatility, they have beco...

MUFG’s path to innovation and resilience in APAC

MUFG Bank is advancing its operations in the Asia Pacific region with a strategic vision focused on modernisation, collaboration and sustainability. B...

How Techcombank is driving growth and innovation in Vietnam’s banking sector

Techcombank reported a 20.3% increase in profit before tax for 2024, driven by strong credit growth, digital innovation and fee-based income. CFO Alex...

The AI imperative - How banks can work with generative AI

Preferred Networks, Japan’s largest AI unicorn, is at the forefront of artificial general intelligence. At the TAB Global Japan Innovation Study Tou...

TPBank accelerates growth through digital banking, AI and social banking initiatives

Hoai Nam (James) Tran, head of digital banking at TPBank, discussed the bank’s digital- first strategy, social banking initiatives, the adoption of ...

Thai banks ponder a future defined by speed, collaboration and customer experience in the AI era

How banks in Thailand can harness emerging technologies, reinvent collaboration and create a seamless, boundary-less customer experience....

Innovation and leadership lessons from SoftBank and SBI

SoftBank and SBI have emerged as powerful forces in financial and technological innovation. Their approaches to investment, digital transformation and...

Digital and retail banking trends in 2025

The digital and retail banking sectors continue to evolve, driven by innovation, rapid development and adoption of generative artificial intelligence ...

CTBC Bank’s Amy Yang strengthens retail franchise dominance, expands inclusive and sustainable finance

Amy Yang, Retail Banking Group CEO at Taiwan’s CTBC Bank, was recognised as the Retail Finance Leader of the Year in Asia Pacific for 2025 at the TA...

Standard Chartered, Industrial Bank of Korea, First Bank of Nigeria and WeBank recognised for excellence in retail, digital finance, SME banking and wealth management in Asia Pacific and Africa

Standard Chartered and its Hong Kong subsidiary, Industrial Bank of Korea, First Bank of Nigeria and WeBank were recognised at The TAB Global Excellen...

Japan Banking Innovation Conference 2025 - Transforming finance through agentic AI, digital assets and quantum computing

The Japan Banking Innovation Conference 2025, held at The Westin Tokyo, convened over a hundred senior banking executives, fintech leaders, policymake...

Exploring fintech regulation, sustainability, wearables and corporate venture capital innovation

Day 3 of the Japan Innovation Study Tour delved into the convergence of fintech regulation, sustainability, wearables and corporate venture capital in...

Strategic investments drive customer-centric digital finance

The second day of the Japan Innovation Study Tour 2025 provided an in-depth look at how Japan’s financial institutions are leveraging technology, st...

Advancing frontiers in fintech, AI, robotics and space exploration

On Day 1, the Japan Innovation Study Tour 2025 opened with a welcome from tour hosts Foo Boon Ping, president and managing editor of The Asian Banker,...

Half of the world’s top 10 banks by net profit are based in China

Chinese banks dominate the world’s top 10 banks by net profit, but their profit growth lagged behind US and UK banks, mainly due to rate cuts, narro...

How the US-China rivalry will shape global banking in 2025

The economic rivalry between the United States (US) and China will continue to influence the global banking industry in 2025, with significant implic...

Global banking sector at a crossroads amid economic headwinds and accelerating transformation

Banks across advanced and emerging markets navigate economic realignment, regulatory evolution and digital disruption....

DeFi is setting new rules for the future of banking

At FirstBank Fintech 6.0 Summit 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria in November, Emmanuel Daniel discussed the transformative impact of decentralised finance (DeF...

TAIB aims to lead in inclusive and innovative digital products and services

TAIB is looking to redefine financial services in Brunei through its customer-focused, Shariah-compliant, and technology-driven solutions....

Bridging two worlds: Why stablecoins can be the missing link

Stablecoins bridge traditional banking and digital assets, enhancing cross-border payments, financial inclusion, and global trade while requiring robu...

Boost Bank's CEO on bridging financial gaps in Malaysia

Fozia Amanulla discusses Boost Bank's unique approach to digital banking and its commitment to serving underserved communities....

Cathay United Bank wins record number of awards in 2024

Cathay United Bank has been recognised with nearly 90 awards as of November 2024, underscoring its achievements in areas such as wealth management, d...

Bank of Jiangsu strengthens digital transformation with new-gen database platform

Bank of Jiangsu implements a next-generation enterprise-level database system for real-time data processing, enhancing operational efficiency, innovat...

Vietcombank has demonstrated superior asset quality, robust profitability, and enhanced capitalisation

Vietcombank was recognised as the Strongest Bank in Vietnam as part of the World’s 1000 Strongest Banks ranking. This ranking evaluates the largest ...

HNB’s strategic vision to drive transformation, growth and industry leadership

Damith Pallewatte, managing director/CEO of HNB, has charted a bold and ambitious course for the institution. Under his leadership, HNB is embracing ...

Seylan Bank seeks to empower SMEs through digital innovation and financial inclusion

Ranil Dissanayake, Deputy General Manager of Branch Credit, and Chaminda Senewiratne, Head of Digital Banking Channels at Seylan Bank, shared insights...

Shaping the future of finance through technology and innovation

At Sibos 2024, discussions within the financial technology solution community focused on the adoption of ISO 20022, the growing integration of AI and ...

Fenergo harnesses automation and artificial intelligence to strengthen compliance

Cengiz Kiamil, managing director in Asia Pacific for Fenergo, a regulatory compliance solutions platform, discusses how the company leverages automati...

Burnt Banksy - from burning NFT art to refining digital assets

In a conversation with The Asian Banker founder Emmanuel Daniel, “Burnt Banksy”, who in 2021 set aflame a Banksy piece after tokenising it, talked...

Canadia Bank balances prudence, innovation and community engagement amid market challenges

Canadia Bank, under CEO Raymond Sia, is navigating Cambodia’s evolving financial landscape with a focus on stability, digital transformation, and co...

Cambodian banking association focuses on consumer protection, industry stability and resilience

Rath Sophoan, chairman of the Association of Banks in Cambodia and Raymond Sia, vice chairman, discussed the priorities for Cambodia’s banking secto...

How Temenos helps financial institutions integrate ESG standards and technology

Kalliopi Chioti, Chief ESG Officer, and Frankie Wai, Business Solutions Director at Temenos, discussed the pivotal role of technology in helping banks...

Mastercard combats rising fraud with AI and global collaboration

At the Singapore Fintech Festival 2024, Matthew Driver, executive vice president, head of services at Mastercard Asia Pacific, highlighted that as acc...

GitHub on responsible AI, bridging innovation and regulation

As AI regulation intensifies globally, GitHub’s chief legal officer, Shelley McKinley, shares her insights on balancing innovation with regulatory f...

Euroclear investment poised to drive Marketnode’s expansion in digital asset distribution

Rehan Ahmed, CEO of Marketnode, shares insights into Euroclear’s strategic investment, MAS’s support for asset tokenisation, and how Marketnode’...

ANEXT Bank’s journey to innovate for MSMEs

In an exclusive interview, ANEXT Bank CEO Toh Su Mei discussed the bank's mission to reshape financial services for MSMEs in Singapore and beyond. ...

Open banking drives financial innovation in the Middle East

Open banking is transforming the Middle East financial landscape, with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leading through innov...

Cross-border payments in the Middle East become more inclusive

Cross-border payments in the Middle East are becoming more streamlined, inclusive, and with better compliance in response to increased trade, investme...

BOCHK, BIBD, Public Bank and Vietcombank named strongest banks in latest TAB Global 1000 ranking in Beijing

Unveiled at Sibos in Beijing, the 2024 TAB Global 1000 ranking highlights BOCHK, BIBD, Public Bank, and Vietcombank as the strongest banks in their ma...

Sibos 2024 in Beijing marks strategic nexus for global finance and China's growing role

Beijing took centre stage as the global financial community gathered for Sibos 2024, a milestone event that showcased China’s growing influence in i...

HKEX’s strategy to help global clients navigate challenges and opportunities in Hong Kong and Mainland markets

At Sibos 2024 in Beijing, Tae Yoo, managing director of global client development at HKEX, shared insights into how HKEX Group is addressing the evolv...

How is Broadridge helping FIs balance digital innovation and operational resilience with AI

As financial institutions become increasingly interconnected, ensuring digital operational resilience while embracing artificial intelligence (AI) inn...

How does Temenos see the way for ISO 20022 transition, AI deployment and resilient design

At Sibos 2024 in Beijing, Temenos business director Frankie Wai addressed some issues in financial services today: the ISO 20022 transition, the integ...

Deutsche Bank navigates future of payments with focus on ISO 20022 and financial crime prevention

At Sibos 2024 in Beijing, Sebastien Avot, managing director and APAC head of institutional cash and trade finance at Deutsche Bank, shared insights on...

Deutsche Bank sees cash management and payments innovation with ISO 20022 adoption

At Sibos 2024, Patricia Sullivan, global head of institutional cash management at Deutsche Bank, outlined the bank’s approach to modernising global ...

SHRCB empowers local SMEs with digital financing and cross-border trade solutions

In an interview at Sibos 2024, Xu Li, chairman of Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank (SHRCB), and Huang Zhao, general manager of the bank’s trade financ...

Why South Asia and SEA will lead the future of fintech lending

South Asia and Southeast Asia are poised to dominate fintech lending, driven by unique growth factors and supportive ecosystems....

Exploring AI's transformative impact on finance and technology in China

On Day 2 of The Banking Academy Beijing AI Innovation Study Tour 2024, delegates explored how artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, a...

China's AI innovation explores the intersection of finance, technology and regulation

Day 1 of The Banking Academy Beijing AI Innovation Study Tour 2024 provided delegates with an in-depth view of China’s advances in fintech, platform...

Buna poised to transform cross-border payments in the Arab region and beyond

Buna, launched by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), is reshaping cross-border payments by enhancing financial inclusion, reducing inefficiencies, and fost...

Choudhry: “What will global banking regulation look like in a digital world?”

In a conversation with Emmanuel Daniel, Moorad Choudhry stressed the need to simplify global banking regulations, particularly those from Basel, to b...

Sashidhar Jagdishan's strategic leadership at HDFC Bank recognised in Asia Pacific

Sashidhar Jagdishan, managing director and CEO of HDFC Bank, received the Bank CEO of the Year in Asia Pacific award for 2024, acknowledging his resil...

PBoC’s new stock market stabilisation stimulus shows quick results

People’s Bank of China (PBoC) governor Pan Gongsheng announced stimulus policies, including RMB 800 billion ($114 billion) of liquidity support dire...

Global central banks' quantitative tightening and implications for industry

Major central banks worldwide are shrinking their balance sheets after pumping liquidity into their economies throughout the worst of the COVID-19 pan...

Marketnode’s ambition to transform capital markets through blockchain

Rehan Ahmed, CEO of Marketnode, is driving the transformation of capital markets using blockchain technology, with a focus on overcoming regulatory c...

A philanthropic powerhouse shaping the United Arab Emirates’ future

Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, a trailblazer in the business world and a passionate philanthropist, has spent decades shaping both the commercial and charitab...

Philippines' digital transformation fuels financial growth and inclusion

Leaders and regulators in the Philippine banking and finance industry convened at Finance Philippines 2024 held on 26 September to discuss the vital r...

QIB integrates digital innovation and sustainability

QIB seeks to pioneer the integration of digital innovation and sustainability into its operations. ...

James Chen, the visionary championing global eye care accessibility

James Chen, a well-known Hong Kong-based philanthropist, has made it his life's mission to address the world’s most significant unaddressed disabili...

Standard Chartered elevates the mobile banking experience in Hong Kong with innovative features and advanced UI/UX

The revamped mobile banking app, SC Mobile Next Gen, provides innovative features that address customer demands for intuitive navigation, streamlined ...

CTBC’s strategic approach to private banking growth through innovation and global expansion

In an in-depth interview with John Yang, Executive Vice President and Head of Private Wealth Management, and Freddie Chen, Senior Vice President and H...

Indonesia charts path for financial sector deepening and resilience with Vision 2045

At The Asian Banker Finance Indonesia 2024, co-hosted with PERBANAS, Indonesian financial leaders outlined the ambitious Vision 2045....

Quantum technology can revolutionise finance, but create new problems

Quantum computing can transform financial services by improving computation, modelling, and risk management. However, it also poses cybersecurity risk...

North Asia’s global banks ponder AI, cloud, and resilience for a competitive edge

As financial institutions in North Asia, covering Greater China, Japan and South Korea, confront demographic and economic challenges, they are leverag...

LOLC Cambodia drives financial inclusion with new technology

Duleep Liyanage, CIO at LOLC Cambodia, shared how the bank is using modern technology to expand financial inclusion and improve customer service acros...

HSBC revamps trade finance with strategic collaborations and client-centric solutions

In response to shifting global trade patterns, HSBC is refocusing its efforts through its newly rebranded Global Trade Solutions. It is embracing dat...

CHID Bank modernises for Myanmar’s regulatory shift

Soe Sandar Aung, head of core and digital banking at CHID Bank, discussed how the bank is updating its operations to meet new regulatory demands, focu...

Barclays bolsters institutional payment processing in APAC with $1B infrastructure investments

Barclays' $1 billion investment in global payment infrastructure aims to expand client access to local instant payment systems while enhancing cost-ef...

How will BNY’s innovations drive the future of cross-border payments in Asia Pacific

Jennifer Barker, global head of treasury services and depositary receipts at BNY, discussed the rapid evolution of cross-border payments in Asia Pacif...

East West Bank enhances digital systems

Barani Sundaram, CTO of East West Bank, explained how the bank is modernising its core systems to improve customer service and operational efficiency,...

J Trust Bank overhauls legacy system

Cho Won June, director of information strategy and technology at J Trust Bank explained how the bank is tackling the challenges of outdated legacy sys...

BNCTL upgrades to boost financial services

Antonio Vitor, chairman and CEO of BNCTL, discussed the bank’s technology upgrades and how they are helping expand financial inclusion and drive gro...

Strategies for success: Insights from ASEAN’s financial leaders at the Temenos Regional Forum 2024

Banking experts from across ASEAN discussed the critical role of technology and regulation in modernising financial systems, strengthening consumer pr...

Taiwan’s leading banks prioritise innovation, regional expansion, and sustainability

Industry leaders convened at Finance Taiwan to discuss the future of digital finance, regional expansion strategies, and the integration of sustainabi...

Art Outreach Singapore chairman Mae Anderson builds bridges between arts and community

Mae Anderson, a lifelong advocate for the arts and visual literacy, has transformed Art Outreach Singapore into a pivotal force in the local arts scen...

UOB integrates Citigroup in ASEAN’s largest data merger

UOB’s acquisition of Citigroup’s ASEAN banking franchise, encompassing 2.4 million customers, marked a major expansion. Leveraging innovation and ...

UnionBank drives consumer banking growth with digital transformation and strategic acquisitions

UnionBank strengthens its consumer banking segment through strategic acquisitions and innovative digital transformation initiatives....

SeaBank Indonesia achieves rapid profitability and growth

SeaBank Indonesia's focus on retail banking has led to unprecedented growth and profitability, achieving in just 18 months after its product launch in...

Bank BTPN’s Henoch Munandar prioritises sustainable financial inclusion and digitalisation in Indonesia

Bank BTPN, under the leadership of president director/CEO, Henoch Munandar, focuses on sustainable financial inclusion and digital transformation to...

Bank Aladin expands sharia-compliant digital financial services in Indonesia

Bank Aladin aims to transform Indonesia’s banking landscape through strategic partnerships and innovative sharia-compliant financial solutions, emph...

Allo Bank harnesses AI for strategic digital expansion

Allo Bank is leveraging AI, strategic partnerships, and customer-centric products to drive growth and aim to accelerate its trajectory to profitabilit...

Accelerating digital transformation in retail finance

The 2024 Excellence in Retail Finance programme highlighted how digital transformation and technological advancements are reshaping retail finance, fo...

DANA’s Sasono: “Differentiate between GenAI hype and fundamentals”

Norman Sasono, chief technology officer (CTO) of Indonesia-based digital wallet and payment company, DANA...

Revolut receives UK banking licence, but reasons to remain sceptical

Revolut, a notable player in European fintech, received its UK banking licence on 25 July 2024. This has been widely celebrated by the international f...

OCBC enhances corporate cash management through competitive features

By addressing key pain points and prioritising customer experience, OCBC sets new standards for convenience, functionality, and safety with enhanced p...

UOB and Woori Card partner to fuel ASEAN-Korea travel boom

A new collaboration between UOB and Woori Card aims to capitalise on the growing travel market between ASEAN and South Korea...

Yaser Abu-Mostafa: “AI can unlock DNA secrets and more”

Caltech professor Yaser Abu-Mostafa shared his vision of artificial intelligence unlocking the secrets of DNA and transforming healthcare with Emmanu...

O-Bank aims to be Taiwan’s first digital-native bank by leveraging flexible core banking system

Lichen Hung, O-Bank’s CIO, shared insights into the journey and motivations behind transforming a traditional banking institution into a leading dig...

Tanoto Foundation Medical Philanthropy bridges funding gaps in medical research

The Tanoto Foundation held its inaugural Medical Philanthropy Forum to award the first recipients of its Medical Research Fund grants.The event unders...

Cake Vietnam digital bank aims for profitability by end 2024

Leveraging advanced AI, the bank aims to be among the top 5% of profitable digital-only banks globally by the end of 2024, transforming digital bankin...

Celebrating 25 Years of The Asian Banker Summit

Speech by Emmanuel Daniel, founder of The Asian Banker, at The Asian Banker Summit in Hong Kong on 23 May...

Lord Chris Holmes: “Bridge innovation and resilience for future finance now”

Holmes advocates for balancing financial innovation with resilience, emphasising regulatory sandboxes, AI's transformative role, and the need for adap...

Cathay United Bank’s Singapore nexus fuels regional ambitions

As Southeast Asia’s economic clout continues its inexorable rise, Cathay United Bank (CUB) is turbocharging its Singapore operations, establishing t...

PVcomBank to reach five million customers in a year with AI

Trinh Vinh Hien, chief technology and digital officer of Vietnam’s PVcomBank, and Ramki Ramakrishnan, managing director for Asia Pacific at Temenos,...

EastWest Bank’s hybrid strategy—digital transformation with a human touch

EastWest Bank is embracing a hybrid strategy, integrating digital innovations with conventional banking services, to enhance customer experience and d...

Baiduri Bank overhauls 17-year-old core banking system

Baiduri Bank is modernising its core banking capabilities by implementing Temenos Transact, paving the way for enhanced digital services, streamlined ...

BOK recognised for ensuring Korea’s financial system stability

Bank of Korea highlights its commitment to ensuring South Korea’s economic stability through proactive risk assessments and strengthened capital req...

Carmen Chu: “HKMA’s balanced, risk-based regulation aligns with global standards”

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has won the top prize for macroeconomic regulation, reflecting its commitment to upholding rigorous regulatory...

MB Bank leapfrogs from two million to 15 million transactions per day

MB Bank's long-standing partnership with Temenos has enabled its digital transformation, recently upgrading to the Java-based Tab J framework and scal...

SHB streamlines technology adoption for swift market entry

One of Vietnam‘s leading commercial banks, Saigon-Hanoi Bank, accelerates its digital evolution with cutting-edge banking solutions....

Role of strong and sustainable leadership in the financial services industry

The Excellence in Retail Finance and Technology Innovation Hong Kong Awards 2024 held recently, recognised the achievements in digital and retail bank...

Cathay United Bank boosts ASEAN presence, strengthening global supply chains and regional integration

Expanding beyond Taiwan, the bank will focus on ASEAN markets to bolster global supply chain resilience and regional economic integration, according t...

GXBank’s Lai Pei Si: “We’re a motley crew of technologists and bankers with a clear purpose to build the bank forward”

GXBank is the frontrunner in inclusive, technology-driven financial services in Malaysia. Its CEO Lai Pei Si discussed the bank’s journey since its ...

Innovation and resilience—What’s on the supervisors’ radar?

In his opening keynote at The Asian Banker Summit 2024, Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, explored the dual imp...

Raja Teh Maimunah: "AEON Bank blends heritage with Shariah-compliant innovation"

As Malaysia embraces digital finance, AEON Bank's Raja Teh Maimunah, discusses the heritage and strategies shaping the nation’s first Shariah-compli...

Chris Holmes on future of inclusive finance and technology

Ahead of his keynote at The Asian Banker Summit in Hong Kong in May 2024, Holmes, known as Lord Holmes in the UK House of Lords, discussed his expansi...

KAF powers up digital finance

Malaysia’s KAF Investment Bank builds its new digital platform to bring Islamic banking up to date for a new age....

From banker to insurer - Dennis Tan’s transition to impacting lives at Prudential Singapore

Dennis Tan, CEO of Prudential Singapore, discussed the shifting concerns of customers post-pandemic towards personal well-being and financial security...

Sean Kiernan on blockchain: “Crypto bridges real-world capital needs”

Banking innovator Sean Kiernan from Greengage discussed how they use crypto-collateralised loans to help SMEs, stressing the importance of partnership...

Bank boards fail to embrace technological imperative

The boards of many financial institutions lag in recognising technology’s critical role, risking resilience and competitiveness due to insufficient ...

DBP and LandBank merger scrapped

Opting against merging DBP and LandBank emphasises their distinct roles and the importance of individual development for comprehensive economic growth...

MAS launches digital platform to fight money laundering and terrorism financing

Singapore’s central bank has launched a platform that allows financial institutions to exchange customer information and flag suspicious activities ...

AEON Bank launches Malaysia’s first Shariah-compliant digital platform for underserved, tech-savvy customers

Raja Teh Maimunah, CEO of AEON Bank, provides insights into Malaysia's first Shariah-compliant digital bank, which is poised to transform banking. Wit...

Is philanthropy flawed?

Critiqued as a necessary but flawed response to societal issues, philanthropy stands as a mediator of wealth and persistent inequality, prompting a ne...

How regulators can combat greenwashing and greenhushing for more honest ESG financing

As sustainable finance grows, global governments and stakeholders employ AI and regulations to tackle greenwashing and greenhushing, promoting transpa...

Bitcoin’s $1.3 trillion market cap reflects heightened interest despite regulatory scrutiny

Surging past $1.3 trillion, the cryptocurrency marks a significant milestone, with some enthusiasts predicting a potential $56 trillion cap by 2034...

Taikang Family Office: Wealth planning for UHNW clients that caters to their increasing lifespans

Taikang’s adept grasp of ultra-high-net-worth clients’ lifelong needs has enabled it to create a seamless fusion of insurance, healthcare, and ass...

HSBC advocates diversified global investment portfolio with emphasis on ASEAN and Indian assets

James Cheo, chief investment officer for Southeast Asia and India at HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth, discusses the evolving investment opportu...

Unveiling the future of finance, embracing a new digital horizon

TABInsights’ global benchmarks in retail and digital banks, and financial platforms, signal a significant shift towards digital transformations...

Digital Banking Annual Meeting 2024: Shaping the future through AI

Industry leaders converged in Seoul to explore the transformative potential of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, and highlighted the imper...

Digital Banking Annual Meeting 2024: Shaping the future through AI

Industry leaders converged in Seoul to explore the transformative potential of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, and highlighted the imper...

Chairman of Korea Federation of Banks emphasises industry ethics and innovation

Under chairman Cho Yong-byoung, the Korea Federation of Banks will focus on enhancing industry ethics and innovation, aiming to combat misrepresentati...

Nominations are in for Global Retail Finance Leader of the Year 2024

TAB Global’s annual Retail Finance Leader of the Year award recognises outstanding contributions to sustainable banking and institutional transforma...

Saxo’s Chang: “Bespoke services or impactful investing will emerge as winners”

Ivan Chang, head of institutional at Saxo emphasises digitalisation's growing importance, shifting client demographics, fintechs' impact on wealt...

Nominations are in for Digital Finance Leader of the Year 2024

TAB Global’s annual Digital Finance Leader of the Year award recognises one outstanding individual reshaping finance through innovation and inclusio...

The future of finance and innovation in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia

Banque Saudi Fransi leaders Millaniyage Nuwan Perera and Ali Najim Alkhamis stressed Saudi Arabia's strategic initiatives toward economic diversificat...

SBI’s Krishnan: “We prioritise high availability, scalability and security”

Vidya Krishnan discusses YONO’s global expansion and its integrated super app strategy, catering to diverse customer needs with over 60 million regi...

HNB drives growth amid Sri Lanka's economic odds

Hatton National Bank (HNB) defies Sri Lanka's macroeconomic constraints by delivering outstanding retail banking performance in 2023. Sanjay Wijemanne...

NBK sets strategic blueprint for a digital future

Deema Shaath, Head of Consumer Banking Digital Strategy at the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), outlines the bank's innovative digitisation strategy. Sh...

US banks confront challenges in shifting commercial real estate dynamics

As commercial property prices decline due to a pandemic-induced decrease in office space demand, US banks are boosting provisions for credit losses, p...

A soft landing in 2024?

The global market outlook for 2024 anticipates a rate cut, with diverging regional performances, broadened participation in the US market, and investi...

Evergrande liquidation forces ripple effect on China’s property sector

In late January, troubled real estate giant Evergrande was liquidated, unable to reach agreements with creditors over its staggering debts exceeding $...

SVB collapse sets off underwriting-risk alarm

Silicon Valley Bank’s 2023 collapse continues to raise concerns in the echo chambers of the banking sector over slack lending practices and underwri...

Emirates NBD's Bold Digital Transformation: Redefining Banking for the Digital Age

Pedro Sousa Cardoso, Chief Digital Officer, outlines the bank's ambitious journey - from revamping its core infrastructure to cloud-native solutions ...

AI and big data-based apps provide strong potential to drive hyper-personalisation

The banking industry is using AI and data strategies to meet customer preferences, focusing on digital culture, secure operations, and partnerships to...

UNO Digital Bank aims to simplify and elevate banking in the Philippines

Senior executives of the bank discussed their advancements in the Philippines in line with their goal of providing a comprehensive financial services ...

Banks will have to navigate new horizons in a changing world in 2024

The global banking industry faces a unique confluence of challenges and opportunities, shaped by evolving economic landscapes, technological innovatio...

Global financial institutions propel blockchain innovation under Project Guardian

Banks aim to integrate blockchain into mainstream finance for digital assets, emphasising institutional-grade standards, interoperability, and collabo...

In memory of Wee Cho Yaw, chairman emeritus of UOB—embodied honour, enterprise, unity

Wee, the respected honorary adviser of renowned Asian institution, United Overseas Bank, passed away at age 95 after a remarkable life in the industry...

Cross-border divorce challenges, and Singapore’s unique approach

In this article, we look at cross-border divorce challenges, focusing on Singapore’s unique approach to ancillary matters post-foreign divorces, and...

Trust Bank aims to become fourth largest retail bank in Singapore

Dwaipayan Sadhu, CEO of Trust Bank, explains the company's plans to become Singapore's fourth largest digital retail bank. Backed by Standard Chartere...

SSFA aims to establish Singapore as global sustainable-finance hub

Aimed at elevating Singapore to the status of the leading sustainable finance hub in the world, SSFA will be co-chaired by HSBC’s Wong Kee Joo and B...

Late entrant Toss Bank leverages advanced tech to disrupt and lead

Toss Bank, led by CEO Hong Min-taek, shakes up South Korea's digital banking scene with innovation, daily interest payouts, and efficiency, positionin...

Paymentology’s Abe Smith: “We enable customers to go live in weeks”

Cloud-based payments outperform legacy processors in terms of agility, enabling customers to launch new products in weeks. Paymentology co-founder Abe...

Oxford Risk’s Pereira-Stubbs: “Emotional comfort in investing influences financial decisions”

James Pereira-Stubbs, chief client officer at Oxford Risk, discussed the impact of behavioural finance, a domain where technology, psychology and fina...

OCBC blends innovation with security to enhance consumer experience

Sunny Quek, head of global consumer financial services, and Serene Koh, head of group digital business and digital transformation, discussed how OCBC ...

Managing transnational divorce in Singapore: Child custody, relocation, and family well-being

The complexities of a transnational divorce in Singapore cannot be understated, especially when child custody, relocation, and financial responsibilit...

GXS to leverage its ecosystem for sustainable profit

Charles Wong, CEO of GXS Bank, leads the charge in Singapore's digital banking landscape, targeting underserved segments with innovative solutions. Ba...

CIMB’s strategic vision in digital banking and consumer engagement

The bank’s CEO Effendy Shahul Hamid outlined its strategy for ASEAN leadership, emphasising local market focus and practical, value-centric digital ...

Can Singapore’s banks keep up with money laundering tactics?

The island’s strong reputation for financial integrity is under scrutiny due to recent money laundering cases, highlighting the need for more robust...

TymeBank becomes South Africa’s first profitable digital bank

The bank achieved profitability in less than five years, with co-founder and CEO Coen Jonker highlighting the company’s success in South Africa and ...

Thunes’ Winter: “We want to make global payments as easy as sending a WhatsApp message”

James Winter, senior vice president, Europe for global payments provider Thunes, talks about the company’s partnership with banks through a cloud-ba...

RHB Bank enhances ecosystem collaborations and segment synergies

Jeffrey Ng, Managing Director of Group Community Banking at RHB, shares the bank's strategic focus on integrating digital solutions for mortgage and a...

Hong Leong Bank focuses on personalised community banking

Andrew Jong, managing director of personal financial services, and Kevin Ng, head of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) banking, talk about the b...

Minsheng bank uses robust risk management to raise customer confidence

Huang Jin, general manager of wealth management and private banking at China Minsheng Bank, discussed the bank’s private banking strategies that emp...

ICICI’s Jha: “We approach customers as ‘One Bank’ with the entire bouquet of services”

ICICI Bank reported significant business growth in the first half of FY 2023-24, with increases in operating income and net profit driven by strong cr...

Merger with Robinsons Bank signals BPI’s acceleration of digital banking capabilities

The merger is a big step for BPI’s digital banking ambitions, with Robinsons Bank’s 20% stake in GoTyme being able to significantly accelerate gro...

HashKey Group to strengthen Web3 ecosystem, ramp up offerings

At Hong Kong FinTech Week 2023, Anna Liu, general manager of tokenisation at HashKey Group, and Leo Li, CEO of the subsidiary HashQuark, talked about ...

Citigroup’s Shobit Maini: “We’re trying to deliver the benefits of the blockchain technology without the complexity’’

Shobhit Maini, co-head of digital assets for global markets at Citigroup, unveils a groundbreaking FX trading app that uses blockchain to execute real...

StanChart’s Bill Winters: “My legacy is to have built-in resilience, a financially strong bank, and an innovative team”

The bank’s CEO shared insights into its investment in talent, innovation, and sustainability, emphasising his commitment to organisational resilienc...

Austrade’s Betty Sun-Lucas and SFA’s Shadab Taiyabi: “The Australia-Singapore connection offers numerous partnership and cross-selling opportunities”

Betty Sun-Lucas of Austrade and Shadab Taiyabi of the Singapore FinTech Association delved into Project Lorikeet, explaining how this collaborative in...

“audax builds on top of the existing legacy systems”

Alex Manson and Kelvin Tan of audax discuss how the company enables banks to efficiently modernise technology infrastructure through a core banking ag...

Hong Kong’s roadmap to promote fintech adoption

HKMA’s Fintech Promotion Roadmap developed with industry stakeholders aims to drive fintech adoption and spark discussions among banks and fintech c...

Choosing the right jurisdiction for high-net-worth divorces: A look at Singapore's appeal

In a world where wealth attracts wealth, the location of divorce proceedings can make a significant difference. Joesphine Chong and Kym Anstey discuss...

From handshake to handover: The dynamics of selling family businesses and legacy preservation

Business families and individuals selling shares or stakes offer valuable insights into liquidity events, but even with careful planning, such transac...

Harnessing AI and ML for robust risk management

Shekhar Bhandari, Kotak Mahindra Bank's president of global transaction banking, highlights three major themes from Sibos 2023, focusing on the import...

Security Bank elevated retail banking through digitalisation and fintech collaboration

Rahul Rasal, head of retail banking at Security Bank, is driving the bank's growth in retail banking and its transition to a digital, open-banking fut...

Chris Holmes: “Cooperate to enable economic and social benefit right away around the world”

Chris Holmes, UK’s leading advocate for technology and innovation, and committee member on the groundbreaking Electronic Trade Documents Act that ca...

LINE BK expands into wealth and insurance services

Digital bank LINE BK is diversifying into wealth management and SME lending to strengthen its position as a holistic financial service provider ...

NDB’s Maasdorp: “We have a 40% target for climate finance”

New Development Bank’s Leslie Maasdorp discussed how the nascent multilateral bank is bridging the gap in infrastructure financing in emerging econo...

Cloud migration— Pandora’s box of data, culture and core replacement

The cloud was the main topic of discussion at a tech roundtable, with leaders in digital innovation describing their experiences in core migration, ch...

Digital money changes everything

Financial industry leaders and decision-makers assess the banking and financial regulatory landscape over the course of digitalisation, fintech innova...

Banks aim for seamless global payments with ISO 20022 and technology integration

Opening up payment systems for wider usage and standardising with ISO 20022 will achieve speed, security, transparency and traceability in cross-borde...

Green policy caused Europe’s energy crisis

The energy crisis in Europe exposed risks of reliance on renewables, imported gas, and lack of energy diversification...

Why wealth categories matter

Whether self-made, inherited, or both, individuals and families with substantial fortunes get categorised according to their wealth within the financi...

ChatGPT’s impact on finance

Panellists discussed ChatGPT and AI in data analytics, core banking systems, the cloud, customers and products, watching over biases and limitations a...

Transforming debt collection in Southeast Asia amid rising NPL

Then Kian Foh, co-CEO of Collectius, delves into the intricacies of the NPL market in Southeast Asia, the company's unique regional operating model, a...

Emmanuel Daniel: “We are coming to the end of the platform era”

At Seamless Middle East 2023 Dubai, Emmanuel Daniel, founder of TAB Global, presented his book and discussed the ongoing transformation on the financi...

Barney Frank: Regulators unaware of risk of Signature Bank’s imminent failure

Signature Bank’s collapse highlights the need for reforms to address liquidity, regulate cryptocurrencies, and protect depositor interests...

Average remuneration for senior staff at leading Chinese banks higher in 2022 compared to 2021

Despite efforts to cap financial sector pay, 17 out of the 25 largest commercial banks in China saw a rise in average remuneration for their directors...

Bank lending in Asia Pacific to maintain growth of 9% amid China’s reopening

Softening bank loan growth in some markets but Asia Pacific expected to sustain momentum in 2023 with post-COVID-19 recovery in China boosting lending...

China and Africa partner for sustainable investment and growth

China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years, and recent deals between the two countries have further cemented their com...

China and Africa partner for sustainable investment and growth

China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years, and recent deals between the two countries have further cemented their com...

Bill Winters leads StanChart’s strategic shift, refocusing on Asia for profitability and market share

Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered, has been recognised as the inaugural Global CEO of the Year at the Leadership Achievement Awards 2023. Winter...

Signature Bank shutdown explained

Author Emmanuel Daniel, founder of The Asian Banker, ignited a lively discussion with former US congressman Barney Frank and SC Ventures head Alex Man...

Technology, the game changer in climate-risk disclosure by companies seeking ESG investors

The lack of a global standard for disclosure for companies reporting climate-related risks and opportunities have led central banks to propose technol...

AmBank brings digital onboarding to small businesses

Iswaraan Suppiah, AmBank’s group chief operating officer and Aaron Loo, managing director of retail banking, discuss the bank’s AmAccess Biz digit...

Stanchart nexus partners AWS and Indonesia’s e-commerce giant Bukalapak to launch first BaaS platform

Kelvin Tan of Standard Chartered Bank and Peter Murray of Amazon Web Services discussed the launch of BukaTabungan, the digital bank partnership with ...

Closing the generation gap in wealthy families

Studying how Asian families manage wealth from one generation to the next has led advisors to enhance how they work with high-net-worth families...

UOB strengthens core markets even as regional retail franchise doubles in size

UOB is focused on a balanced business approach for scaling up strong, organic new-customer and profit growth as it enlarges regional retail franchise...

US Treasury promises full access to SVB deposits, no bailout

US financial regulators have announced damage-control measures for the Silicon Valley Bank crisis. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen promised that there...

Starling’s Engine grows SaaS business with mobile-first platform

Sam Everington, CEO of Engine, Starling Bank’s technology arm, discussed the advantages of the cloud-native and modular Software-as-a-Service bankin...

Edge computing boosts branch banking in risk management and data governance

By combing various technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, 5G, and internet of things, edge computing is a viable solution to issues s...

Global growth in Ijarah and lease financing

Ijarah is a type of financing in Islamic banking that allows a client to use bank-owned assets or property for a specified period in exchange for rent...

StanChart's Fehr: “Deep-tier financing needed for huge growth in supply chain platform”

Kai Fehr, global head of trade and working capital, Standard Chartered Bank talked about trade platforms and how marketplaces are transforming supply ...

Ping An’s cloud-native technology accelerates digital transformation and Smart Bank implementation

By the end of 2021, 28% of Ping An Bank’s applications, some 1,700, had been built based on a new cloud- native platform...

TPBank's Tran: “One million of our new customers are from third-party platforms”

James Tran, digital bank centre head, TPBank, highlighted that the bank's digital transformation is made possible by shifting to a digital-focused bus...

VPBank differentiates with segment-based digital bank propositions

Giang Pham, director of VPBank’s digital banking service centre, discussed how VPBank’s digital-only bank implementation reflects its “business ...

Mox Bank improves core banking through modern technology stack and API-first solution engine

The bank partnered with Thought Machine’s Vault to launch a greenfield, cloud-native digital bank offering multiple retail products, leveraging a mi...

SC Venture’s Alex Manson: “We set out to rewire the DNA of banking”

Alex Manson, head of the fintech investment and venture arm of Standard Chartered Bank, talked about how SC Ventures is out to transform the role of b...

“Financial inclusion is a lie”

Financial inclusion goes beyond just having a bank account, said Emmanuel Daniel, founder and chairman of Wealth and Society, to Robert Rubinstein, ch...

Kilde’s Radek Jezbera: “BNPLs are misunderstood, the unit economics works”

Radek Jezbera, co-CEO of alternative investment platform Kilde discussed the performance of private debt instruments against publicly traded assets an...

Alejandro McCormack: “N1CO, first digital bank in El Salvador”

Alejandro McCormack, COO and executive director of N1CO discussed with Emmanuel Daniel how N1CO, a digital bank in El Salvador is leading the financia...

GCash's Martha Sazon: “We became profitable three years ahead of target”

Martha Sazon, president and CEO of Mynt/GCash, discussed the rapid growth of the fintech company, how being cloud native helped it be...

BankQuality Rankings 2022: Changing consumer behaviour and digital services drive customer engagement

South Korea’s kakaobank is the most recommended retail bank in Asia Pacific in 2022, the second time that the standalone digital bank has topped the...

Safeboda’s Ricky Thomson: “Digital technology is reviving Uganda”

Ricky Rapa Thomson, co-founder of Uganda’s first ride-hailing app SafeBoda, talked about how digital technology is helping the boda boda (motorcycle...

South Asian banks register highest NPLs

Indian banks still dominate the list of the top 10 banks with the highest nonperforming loan (NPL)ratio among the 500 largest banks in Asia Pacific, d...

YGG's Gabby Dizon: "Gamers earn crypto assets with value in the real economy"

Gabby Dizon, co-founder of Yield Guild Games (YGG), spoke with Emmanuel Daniel about how YGG and the gaming industry adopted blockchain technology and...

Big tech credit expected to reach $1 trillion by 2023

Digital and incumbent banks face growing threats from big tech and payment platforms that are evolving into full-scale financial services players. La...

Mox’s Barbaros Uygun: “Refrain from tech innovation as a primary goal"

Barbaros Uygun, CEO, MOX Bank, in his keynote speech at The Asian Banker Finance Vietnam 2022, shares the story of how Mox became a leading digital ba...

Ukraine’s ambassador Zelenko: “Financial services community can contribute to stopping Russia's war”

Ukrainian ambassador Kateryna Zelenko, in an exclusive conversation with The Asian Banker's Emmanuel Daniel and Mathew Welch discussed the implication...

China, the Olympic Sports Superpower and how it works

A conversation with Mark Dreyer, author of Sporting Superpower, for an insider’s view of China’s quest to be a leading sporting nation, the evolut...

DBS, OCBC and UOB achieved strong financial performance in 2021

DBS Bank (DBS), Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) and United Overseas Bank (UOB) gained strong financial results in financial year 2021 as th...

Banks face escalating battle in fight against digital fraud

With the proliferation of digital frauds in consumer and corporate banking, innovative mechanisms beyond bolstering the security of digital banking ar...

MAS draws up framework for equitable sharing of scam losses

In the wake of the OCBC phishing scams and the compensation made by the bank to all affected customers, MAS decided that the industry should have a mo...

Alex Bank’s Simon Beitz: “We focus on a higher margin for risk opportunities in consumer finance”

Simon Beitz, founder and CEO and Craig Fenwick, co-founder and CFO at Alex Bank share their business model, strategic plans for future growth and how ...

Gunung Capital’s Kimin Tanoto: “China will lead in the fight to lower carbon emissions in the whole of Asia”

At the backdrop of the Glasgow Climate Pact, Kimin Tanoto and Kelvin Fu of Gunung Capital, shared how they are supporting portfolio companies to lower...

CIMB's Samir Gupta: "Digital now accounts for 48% of total product sales"

In this Leadership Perspective Series, Samir Gupta, CEO, consumer banking at CIMB Group, discussed the strategy and opportunities that drive digital t...

BSP's deputy governor Tangonan on financial inclusion, digital transformation, CDBCS and new payments infrastructures

Mamerto Tangonan, deputy governor of BSP, discussed the latest developments in the Philippine’s journey to digitalising its financial ecosystem. He ...

OPay secured 22% share of Nigerian e-wallet market in last 3 years

Mobile-based payment platform OPay has grown exponentially since its launch in 2018, penetrating the unbanked and underbanked population in Nigeria. I...

SmartStream’s Pillay: “Banks have a strong use case to embed AI to automate operations”

Radha Pillay, regional sales director for Asia Pacific at SmartStream, shared his views on the evolving technology requirement of financial institutio...

Grab’s value drops post merger despite leading presence in Southeast Asia

Grab's listing fulfils a key milestone for the platform’s early investors. However, a 12% drop in market value on its first trading day resembles Pa...

Ishk Tolaram’s Nanwani and Aswani: “Effective collaboration will deliver value over the long term”

Ishk Tolaram Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Tolaram Group, aims to empower children and facilitate learning through inquiry. The foundation part...

In conversation with DBS’ Tan Su Shan on recharging global finance

Tan Su Shan, group head of institutional banking at DBS, discusses DBS’ digital transformation story, the evolution of its financial ecosystem to ad...

DBS faces supervisory action after worst online outage

DBS experienced outages to its online banking services from 23 to 24 November, the second extensive disruption to its digital services in over a decad...

MAS’ Menon: “Open crypto networks are not at the stage to meet high standards of governance, security and resilience”

Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore speaks during the Singapore FinTech Festival 2021 on the future of money, finance...

Taurus Wealth Advisors’ Unni: “Higher regulation offers protection to wealth owners and family offices”

Hrishikesh Unni, managing director of Taurus Wealth Advisors, discussed the evolving global family office landscape and how private investors are incr...

Sacombank’s Nguyen Duc Thach Diem: “Our transaction points can now offer business consulting to SMEs”

In this Leadership Perspective Series, Nguyen Duc Thach Diem, CEO at Sacombank, discussed how digital transformation creates a resilient organisation ...

China signals orderly distribution of distressed real estate assets

With 41% of China's $45 trillion in banking assets and 27% of its $30 trillion in loans exposed to the property market, authorities are likely to init...

Alibaba and JD.com posted record Double 11 sales of $139 billion despite tech crackdown

Alibaba and JD.com continue to set new sales records during the Double 11 shopping event, although growth decelerated amid China’s slowing economy a...

Techcombank partners with AWS in cloud migration

Techcombank partnered with cloud computing platform Amazon Web Services to enhance the bank’s cloud capabilities and to promote cloud adoption in Vi...

Temenos’ Becker: “There needs to be a transition plan from the infrastructure support now to the next generation”

David Becker, managing director Asia at Temenos, shared his perspectives on the emerging key technology trends, how banks need to focus on building th...

Singapore’s tax-efficient policies are drawing in single-family offices

With the global average assets under management higher than ever before, wealthy families are looking for greater sophistication and personalisation f...

China's economic policy makers

Top policy advisor, Huang Yiping explains the history and direction of China’s economic policies....

Creating a roadmap for future digital banking strategies

This is a workshop presentation by Emmanuel Daniel at the MPC Digital Commerce Event 2021 on 18 August 2021....

CCU.ai's Romain Nouzareth: “Crypto blockchain is greener and smarter than "old" financial system

Romain Nouzareth, CEO and chairman of CCU.ai, a Quebec-based cryptocurrency miner, discussed its recent listing on the Toronto's TSX Venture Exchange ...

A comparison of licensing frameworks for digital banks in the Middle East

The global financial industry has evolved as a result of the widespread digital transformation of traditional banks and the entrance of new digital ba...

UOB connects SMEs across ASEAN to recovery and growth opportunities

Despite weak growth in the banking industry last year, UOB managed to grow its SME deposits significantly and reported the lowest CIR among its peers....

Ping An Bank pips incumbent CMB and regional peers CBA, Stanchart and DBS to emerge best retail bank in Asia

In 2020, Ping An Bank outperformed its domestic and regional retail banking peers not only in its business growth but also its technology capabilities...

Mox and ZA Bank lead Hong Kong’s virtual bank race

A year after Hong Kong issued eight digital banking licences, Mox and ZA Bank have emerged as the early leaders. Together with WeLab, the three banks ...

Concentration of cloud providers raises financial stability risks

The use of cloud technology is gaining traction among financial institutions due to the efficiency, scale and saving that it affords. However, regulat...

Security Bank’s Dinn: “Technology doesn’t deliver by itself”

In this Leadership Perspective series, Colin Dinn, executive vice president and segment head of Enterprise Technology and Operations at Security Bank ...

Global remittances fell smaller than expected 2.4% in 2020 as economies recover says World Bank

Despite 2020 being a difficult year for most economies, some countries’ remittance flows have proven more resilient than expected during the COVID-1...

Gates’ divorce and the road ahead for the foundation

The shocking announcement of divorce made by Bill and Melinda Gates after 27 years of marriage sent a wave of speculation and uncertainty about their ...

Minmetals Trust’s Wang: “We are undergoing deep transformation to meet the future expectations of wealth management”

Wang Tao, assistant general manager of Minmetals International Trust, described the transformation of the company following major regulatory changes i...

The central bank digital currency disruption has arrived!

As CBDC trials move into actual implementations, global financial markets and monetary systems will be disrupted and transformed....

Neste’s Muruganathan: “Virtual currency with a real carbon footprint”

While mining and investing in cryptocurrencies is lucrative, it comes with a mammoth carbon footprint. Are investors aware about the environmental imp...

Central banks work to link multiple CBDCs across borders

Several countries all over the worl in various stages of developing central bank digital currencies (CBDC) . In a survey of 46 central banks, BIS foun...

European Commission adopts three new measures to strengthen sustainable finance initiatives

Determined to make Europe the first climate-resilient continent by 2050, the European Commission presented a package of new proposals that more granul...

Zilliqa's Conn and Kumar: "DeFi has not fulfilled its promise to help the underbanked"

Amrit Kumar, president and chief scientific officer of Zilliqa, and Michael Conn, CEO of Zilliqa Capital, share their perspectives on current challeng...

SCF to take bigger share of sustainability-linked loans that hit $119 B in 2020

As demand for sustainable products rises, stakeholders including consumers, investors, and regulators are pushing manufacturers, suppliers and lenders...

Citi exits consumer banking to grow Asia wealth management business to $450 billion by 2025

US multinational investment bank and financial services company Citi plans to shut down its consumer banking operations in 13 countries...

Grab to go public in US via $40 billion SPAC

Grab is set to debut on the US market following its announcement to go public through its partnership with Altimeter....

Pinduoduo becomes China’s largest e-commerce company

Chinese e-commerce player Pinduoduo revealed in its latest report it recorded over 788 million annual active users, surpassing Alibaba’s 779 million...

FinAccel's Garg: "Credit data is a challenge for BNPL in Indonesia"

Akshay Garg, CEO and founder of FinAccel that operates the credit finance platform Kredivo, shared challenges and strategic perspectives of credit-bas...

Revolut moves into US and UK online banking race

Fintech startup Revolut has applied for a banking licence in the US and UK in a bid to make inroads into the online banking business in the two econom...

BNPL funding grew 93% CAGR as volumes, users and revenues surged in 2020

The rapid transformation of domestic and cross-border payments brings new opportunities and challenges for financial institutions. Industry experts sh...

Can impact investing play a part in war zones?

We are living in the most peaceful time in human history, with the lowest number of deaths from war in the last decade. ...

DBS Private Bank commits more than 50% of AUM to sustainability investments

Joseph Poon, group head of DBS Private Bank, shared expansion plans for the bank’s sustainability portfolio and commitment towards long term impact ...

Coupang raises $4.6 billion in biggest US IPO this year

Coupang has raised $4.6 billion making it one of the biggest share offering by an Asian company on a US exchange...

Shangri-La Brewery's Gyalzur:

Songtsen “Sonny” Gyalzur, founder of the Shangri-La Highland Craft Brewery, spoke with Emmanuel Daniel about his journey from a privileged young m...

LINE BK tops two million users in Thailand

LINE BK, the first social banking platform in Thailand, has exceeded two million users within four months from its launch in October 2020. LINE BK reg...

Raast set to revolutionise digital payments in Pakistan

Market development, operational challenges, and payment preferences are going to shape consumer engagement with the new instant payment platform...

HSBC Holdings chooses Asia to accelerate business growth after plans to sell its US retail business

HSBC Holdings is looking to focus capital from its underperforming businesses in Europe and the United States and invest $6 billion in Asia over a per...

Mastercard and Island Pay launch CBDC linked prepaid card in the Bahamas

Mastercard and Island Pay launched a prepaid card which allows users to transact using the Central Bank of The Bahamas issued digital currency, and ex...

Top Indian banks increase investments in technology

India’s financial payments and banking industry is expected to invest more on new technologies and improve existing infrastructures and capabilities...

Lowering the final barriers to open banking innovation

Open banking has huge potential to advance client services in the Asia Pacific region. While many of the region’s financial institutions have alread...

Saudi Arabian and Egyptian banks demonstrate capital strength as Middle Eastern and African peers reveal weakness amid heightened stress

National Commercial Bank and Banque Misr emerged as the strongest bank by balance sheet in the Middle East and Africa respectively in 2020. Banks in S...

StanChart Kenya is Most Recommended Retail Bank in Africa; Nedbank, Capitec Bank, CalBank, and Guaranty Trust Bank lead multiple consumer rankings

Customers decide which banks in the Africa region stood out from the rest and were most helpful during COVID-19 following the result of the BankQualit...

SCB’s new payment hub boosts processing capacity and business growth

Siam Commercial Bank and IT partner FIS implemented a future-proof payment hub to increase processing capacity and shorten product development cycle. ...

Banque Saudi Fransi, Commercial International Bank and Emirates NBD lead consumer rankings in the Middle East

The inaugural BankQuality™ Consumer Survey and Rankings in the Middle East interviewed 3,000 customers in three key markets in the region on their e...

Grab-Singtel, SEA Group, ANT and Chinese consortium win new digital bank licences in Singapore

After a COVID-19 led delay, the Monetary Authority of Singapore finally announced the winners of four of five digital banking licences that it planned...

Why Asian family offices are moving towards sustainable investing

Be it the looming intergenerational wealth transfer, the rising millennial generation or the current pandemic – all of these factors have increasing...

Alibaba’s Singles Day breaks record within minutes of launch

Alibaba achieved another record-breaking sales of RMB498.2 billion ($74.1 billion) in total gross merchandise volume for its 11-day shopping festival ...

Krungthai Bank’s Srivanich: “My aspiration is to establish the next normal in digital banking”

The president and CEO at Krungthai Bank, Payong Srivanich, discusses the bank’s digital reinvention to enhance customer experience by improving serv...

China Merchants Bank is best retail bank amid strong competition from UAE, India and Singapore

New performance benchmarks shaped by COVID-19 and digital transformation reshuffle best retail banks ranking in 2020...

SEB’s Paula Da Silva: “It's the liquidity that could potentially kill you and not the capital”

Paula Da Silva, head of transaction services at SEB, discusses the impact of COVID-19 on trade and cash management business from the bank and pan-Euro...

Thirteen most profitable digital banks in Asia Pacific upped earnings by 49% in 2019

Digital banks in Asia Pacific witnessed improving overall profitability in FY2019. Although some digital banks’ net profit in FY2020 has been affect...

DWS’ Plein: “The large growth in ESG strategies will kick in in 2021”

Oliver Plein, global head of investment specialists ESG at DWS discusses how sustainability related regulations and investor demand have driven ESG in...

TMB Bank’s Anghel: “Stay focused and impatient”

The head of digital and user experience at TMB Bank, Robert Anghel, discusses how the bank is focusing on consumers’ growing appetite for digital se...

UnionBank’s Aguda: “The 50 million customers and 1 million SMEs aspiration is now a hard target”

In this Digital Reinvention Dialogue, the chief technology and transformation officer of Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), Henry Aguda, share...

BCA’s Setiaatmadja: “Accelerating digital strategy vital to growing customer base and business stability”

The president director of Bank Central Asia (BCA), Jahja Setiaatmadja, talks about how accelerating the bank’s digital transformation has helped in ...

Retail Awards 2020: Best players focus on digital engagement and customer-centric ecosystems amid uncertain environment

At the International Heads of Retail Finance Virtual Meeting on 28 August 2020, leaders from over 22 institutions in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and...

BankQuality Rankings 2020: Consumers will dictate the winners and losers in the digital era

The inaugural BankQuality™ Consumer Survey and Rankings interviewed 11,000 bank customers in 11 markets across the Asia Pacific region on their enga...

Responsible lenders must respond to COVID-19’s realities

What should a responsible lending business look like? Against the backdrop of COVID-19, the answer isn’t so straightforward. ...

Ping An Global Voyager’s Lacey: “We are driven by the inexorable convergence of technology and traditional finance”

Donald Lacey, managing director and chief operating officer of Ping An Global Voyager Fund discusses the investment philosophy of the company, the the...

Greater engagement among exchanges on ESG disclosure and products

Nandini Sukumar, CEO, The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), shares the results of its sixth annual sustainability survey that showed increased enga...

Banking will change after COVID-19: Four new standards to meet

...

SCF to increase share of sustainability-linked loans which hit $119.6 B in 2020

As demand for sustainable products rise, stakeholders including consumers, investors, and regulators are pushing manufacturers, suppliers and lenders ...

Nonprofit organisations receive increased support through online giving

The market for charitable giving is evolving like other forms of commerce and establishing a firm digital presence...

BSP’s Ala: “Revising Islamic banking framework to bridge the underserved market in the Philippines”

Arifa Ala, managing director of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, talks about the provisions of the new Islamic banking law in the Philippines and how ...

Alibaba’s Singles’ Day sales top $38 billion, a 26%-increase from last year

With Alibaba’s Singles’ Day, the world’s biggest shopping festival, bringing in a record of $38.4 billion this year, sales hit US$1 billion in t...

Saudi Arabia tops Islamic bank ranking, Malaysia dominates share of assets

Islamic banks in Saudi Arabia are the largest and strongest, while Malaysia dominates share of assets ...

A demonstration of resilience

Banks in Saudi Arabia and UAE remain the strongest in the Middle East, while South African and Egyptian banks are the leaders in Africa...

Asia Pacific banks face stronger headwinds ahead

As Chinese banks continue to dominate the list of largest banks, others in Asia Pacific face mounting pressure to sustain performance...

Hang Seng Bank is the strongest bank in Hong Kong and Asia Pacific for 2019

Hang Seng Bank tops the ranking in Asia Pacific for this year’s The Asian Banker Strongest Banks By Balance Sheet, which is the most comprehensive a...

Western Union’s Keogh: “Regulation offers opportunity to do better”

Jacqueline Keogh, Western Union’s global head of payments sales, discusses some key points regarding regulation and innovation in the industry as we...

Microsoft’s Hazou: “A digital revolution is not only about technology”

Peter Hazou, director of business strategy for worldwide financial services at Microsoft, elaborates how the changing role of banks, habits of consume...

Fiserv’s Chance: “Information is the cornerstone that’s driving fintech”

David Chance, Fiserv’s vice president of payments strategy and innovation, talks about how payment systems are shaking up the industry as well as th...

INTL FCStone’s McDonald: “The ability to track payments is the next step to full transparency”

Clayton McDonald, head of sales for the global payments division at INTL FCStone, discusses how SWIFT's gpi initiative enables end-to-end tracking, ma...

Nordea’s Zekkar: 2020 is the year of geographical expansion

Patrik Zekkar, global head of trade finance and working capital management at Nordea, shares his views on the overall business in the trade finance ar...

Bank of America : “The value of data will correspond to the quality of service”

Paul Taylor, the head of global financial institutions (FIs) at Bank of America , talks about the massive increase in the importance of data and how t...

State Bank of India’s Kumar: “We will use technology to drive social economic transformation in India”

Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, State Bank of India (SBI) discusses how SBI, as the largest bank in India, will play a crucial role in unlocking the economic...

Ping An Bank’s Xie: “Those who focus on technologies will be the winners”

Ping An Bank chairman Xie Yonglin talked about the bank’s transformation journey into a leading retail financial services provider, the evolution o...

Number of digital platform outages in Australia rose sharply in 2018

Sharp rise in electronic payment incidents in Australia resulted in substantial customer disruption in 2018....

Security lapses in 7-Eleven mobile app result in hackers stealing over $500,000

Lack of proper two-factor authentication and device linkage led to the hacking of 900 customer accounts and $509,000 fraudulent transactions in 7-Ele...

Facebook's Libra will rival US monetary system cites US House Financial Services Committee

The US House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee has called for a halt to Facebook's cryptocurrency-based digital wallet citing seriou...

Singapore’s banking liberalisation moves on to the next chapter with digital banks

Tharman Shanmugaratnam, senior minister and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, reveals the next steps inliberalising Singapore’s bank...

Total e-wallet size in Indonesia likely to hit $15 billion by 2020

Indonesia is seeing exponential growth in mobile payments spurred by a robust fintech landscape, though usage remains uneven and limited...

A group of leading banks promote greener global shipping through The Poseidon Principles

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Swain: Navigating the future of global commercial banking