Times of change

The pace of change in the financial services sector seems unprecedented. Traditional business models are being dismantled at a rate that, for inflexible incumbents, must be alarming. It is not solely that enabling technology is hurtling forwards, it is also to do with the bigger picture of low margins, heightened customer expectations and increased competition.

Life after Deutsche Bank split?

Deutsche Bank is pondering the future of its retail operations and this might have significant implications for its IT landscape. A number of proposals are currently under discussion, which would see Deutsche Bank selling off its subsidiary, Postbank, and possibly its own branded retail banking business. According to Reuters, Deutsche Bank’s management favours the sale of Postbank but would prefer to keep its own retail banking unit.

Passing on the experience

By this time of year, everyone’s inbox is full to the brim with invitations to attend industry events. Old conferences come round once more, perhaps with a different brand or twist, while new ones pop up. In parallel, you could probably ‘attend’ an industry webcast every day of the week. Where the presentations are sales pitches or high-level repetition of industry issues, with no real answers, that’s when everyone turns to their personal devices and checks their emails – it is a fraught business holding an audience’s attention nowadays.