Chris Skinner's blog

Shaping the future of finance

Opinion

2009: the Year of the Euro

I cannot start 2009 without a nod to the euro, which celebrates its tenth birthday this year and provides so much work for us banking folks, especially those of us in the payments world. The euro has had an interesting period of formulation from its origins in 1992: February 1992 Maastricht Treaty signed by European…

Euro10years

Technology is a key for banking in 2009

I found a whole range of technology predictions for 2009.  One of the best general forecasts comes from Gartner, who say that the top ten technology areas to focus upon during an economic crisis are: 1. Reduce headcount or freeze hiring2. Renegotiate with technology and service providers3. Curtail data center expansion, virtualize assets and lease…

Technology is a key for banking in 2009

I found a whole range of technology predictions for 2009.  One of the best general forecasts comes from Gartner, who say that the top ten technology areas to focus upon during an economic crisis are: 1. Reduce headcount or freeze hiring2. Renegotiate with technology and service providers3. Curtail data center expansion, virtualize assets and lease…

Five banking sector predictions for 2009

Welcome to 2009. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been posting reasonably frivolous bits and bobs, but now to the serious question: what’s in store this year? For most, 2009 is fairly obviously a year of rationalisation and implementation. Rationalising the issues that led to Lehmans collapse and implementing ways to create liquidity. Rationalising…

Bruce Beattie