All articles by William Cain
William Cain
Distribution differentiation
Absa has targeted double-digit consumer banking growth, despite an increasingly testing economic climate in South Africa Louis von Zeuner, the banks head of retail banking, tells William Cain that the banks focus on innovative distribution channels will help it reach more customers and compete more effectively Louis von Zeuner, Absas retail banking CEO, believes the banks consumer business can achieve double digit growth in 2008 despite tough conditions in the South African market
Retail Banker of the Year
Mike DeNoma, group executive director, consumer banking at Standard Chartered, gave a stirring acceptance speech after picking up RBIs Retail Banker of the Year award at the recent International Retail Banking Awards (see A night of excellence), calling consumer banking the back-bone of the financial services industry In a wide-ranging address, he spoke about the big issues facing the industry over the next three years and the role retail banking had to play amid the market turmoil DeNoma, 52, born in the US and now based in Singapore, said the financial services industry faced its biggest challenge in 70 years, and that retail bankers would be the ones holding the centre-ground
A Eurasian powerhouse
Raiffeisen International has been a remarkable growth story over the last three years, expanding its Central and Eastern European retail franchise and increasing profit 11-fold William Cain speaks to Aris Bogdaneris, the man behind the banks consumer strategy, about how it will build on its success Aris Bogdaneris, Raiffeisen Internationals head of retail banking, has told RBI the Austria-based banking group will subtly shift focus after an aggressive three-year customer acquisition strategy
The all-new Antonveneta
Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena has mapped out a three-year vision for the group following its acquisition of Antonveneta It involves a widespread restructuring of the group, including a new head for Antonveneta, change at BMPSs two co-operative subsidiaries and a focus on the north of Italy
Banking for the long term
The groups recent environmental web-based campaign, Race for a Living Planet, has proved a runaway success, with nearly three million people making pledges.After a number of high-profile corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes like Seeing is Believing, commitments under the Clinton Global Initiative and efforts to help people with HIVAIDS, Standard Chartered (StanChart) has registered another CSR success.Its online web campaign Race for a Living Planet, which promotes sustainability issues, has received nearly three million environmental pledges from visitors
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Flushed with success
Michael Wiegand, the banks head of consumer strategy, tells William Cain that the Asia-focused group remains committed to its high-growth strategy.If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Standard Chartered (StanChart) might be forgiven for changing its trademark green and blue branding to a hot, red blush in 2008.StanCharts once-derided strategy of plugging away in emerging markets was fully vindicated in 2007, with a record set of results
Germany’s big hitters eye Postbank
Comments from Deutsche Postbanks chairman have prompted more speculation that Deutsche Postbank, Germanys biggest commercial retail player, could soon be sold Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank have both expressed an interest in buying Postbank, which made record profits in 2007 William Cain reports.Speculation that Deutsche Postbank will be swallowed up by one of Germanys big banking groups to create a national banking powerhouse has intensified during the countrys reporting season
Kaupthing edges across Europe
Kaupthing, Icelands largest financial services group, is expanding its retail banking activities with a major pan-European launch of its direct banking business William Cain reports.Icelandic group Kaupthing has launched an ambitious online savings project that could be operating in more European countries than ING Direct by the end of 2008
Iraq’s banks look to the future
Rafidain bank, the Iraqi state-owned bank, has signed a core banking technology deal with UK consortium MisysB-Plan Information Systems. It is part of a wider government initiative to modernise the countrys dilapidated banking sector and prepare it for potential future stability and growth William Cain reports.Rafidain Bank, the largest state bank in Iraq, has been given government approval to sign a core banking technology deal with a MisysB-Plan Information Systems consortium.Rafidain selected the integrated turnkey core banking solution offered by the UK businesses to underpin a restructuring programme part of a wider campaign being promoted by Iraqs finance ministry
Turning Turkey orange
ING, the Dutch insurance and banking group, has revealed a five-year plan for its new Turkish subsidiary, Oyak Bank ING says it will spend $900 million on growing Oyaks branch and wider distribution network as it looks to take market share in one of the worlds most interesting markets