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A lengthy discussion yesterday about retail distribution channels for banks. The debate began with whether a traditional bank could succeed in launching new channels against clean sheet start-ups. The answer, imho, is no. First, a different audience is attracted to the new channel. Second, a traditional bank brand is not needed for the new channel….

Europe is full of stereotypes.  The Spanish are always manana, the Italians are all corrupt, the Germans will force you to do it their way and the Brits are always drunk. Some of this is true – as we all have a generalisation of view that must emanate from somewhere.  So yes, some Spanish are…

Europe is full of stereotypes.  The Spanish are always manana, the Italians are all corrupt, the Germans will force you to do it their way and the Brits are always drunk. Some of this is true – as we all have a generalisation of view that must emanate from somewhere.  So yes, some Spanish are…

Various cartoons and images amused me last week. First was Brookes cartoon in the Times about Greek debt: And, in the same newspaper, the uneasy ride that Angela Merkel is taking with Nicholas Sarkozy as they try to steer through this disaster and his upcoming elections: Then I found this gate on my journeys: And…

Various cartoons and images amused me last week. First was Brookes cartoon in the Times about Greek debt: And, in the same newspaper, the uneasy ride that Angela Merkel is taking with Nicholas Sarkozy as they try to steer through this disaster and his upcoming elections: Then I found this gate on my journeys: And…

News came out yesterday that Michel Barnier has created a high-level expert group to tackle reforms to the structure of the EU banking sector. Erkki Liikanen, Governor of the Bank of Finland, is going to be the Chairman of the Group, and Carole Sergeant, chair of the HM Treasury steering group in the UK, is tasked…

News came out yesterday that Michel Barnier has created a high-level expert group to tackle reforms to the structure of the EU banking sector. Erkki Liikanen, Governor of the Bank of Finland, is going to be the Chairman of the Group, and Carole Sergeant, chair of the HM Treasury steering group in the UK, is tasked…

A short blog today, but a challenging one. I was talking about Movenbank with a colleague and mentioned that it was going to be the world’s first paperless, cardless bank. They looked at me quizzically. Paperless? Cardless? What do you mean? I said “no cash, no card, just mobile contactless”. They thought I was off…

A short blog today, but a challenging one. I was talking about Movenbank with a colleague and mentioned that it was going to be the world’s first paperless, cardless bank. They looked at me quizzically. Paperless? Cardless? What do you mean? I said “no cash, no card, just mobile contactless”. They thought I was off…

I often find myself buying the latest gadgets, only to be disappointed. A few delight – the iPhone being my personal best example – but many just seem to be over-engineered and too complex. Take the Android. It may be me, but I was recently given a fantastic new Android Phone – a Universe or…