Chris Skinner's blog Shaping the future of finance

Maybe all the talk of Facebook’s privacy policies being a concern are finally having an impact on people networking online as Facebook had it’s first drop in usage in January.  According to Nielsen’s ratings, the number of unique visitors in Britain fell from 8.9 million …

I had a fascinating conversation with a group of information security professionals yesterday.  We were talking around the issues of data leakage and covered a wide variety of subjects from accidental leakage to deliberate theft, from human frailties to ISO27001 standards, from the challenges of …

I had a fascinating conversation with a group of information security professionals yesterday.  We were talking around the issues of data leakage and covered a wide variety of subjects from accidental leakage to deliberate theft, from human frailties to ISO27001 standards, from the challenges of …

"Where’s the best place to head office the bank?" is a question asked regularly by folks like HSBC, and the answer may be quite surprising. Obviously, key contenders would be London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Chicago, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore … in fact, any …

"Where’s the best place to head office the bank?" is a question asked regularly by folks like HSBC, and the answer may be quite surprising. Obviously, key contenders would be London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Chicago, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore … in fact, any …

There’s been a recent storm of controversy over the ECB’s decision to accept mortgage backed bonds from Spain.  In effect, Spain has had a disastrous subprime mortgage collapse and has been bailed out by the ECB.        This Investment Markets note of last week …

There’s been a recent storm of controversy over the ECB’s decision to accept mortgage backed bonds from Spain.  In effect, Spain has had a disastrous subprime mortgage collapse and has been bailed out by the ECB.        This Investment Markets note of last week …

A mate pointed this out from International Banking Systems Journal, December/January issue:  "Italian payment network provider, SIA-SSB, is seeking to move firmly into SWIFT’s domain, with plans to extend its SIAnet broadband network. It is taking its current infrastructure, which provides connectivity between banks and …

A mate pointed this out from International Banking Systems Journal, December/January issue:  "Italian payment network provider, SIA-SSB, is seeking to move firmly into SWIFT’s domain, with plans to extend its SIAnet broadband network. It is taking its current infrastructure, which provides connectivity between banks and …

I was prodded to look at this broadcast from Valentine’s Day by Keith Olbermann, anchor for MSNBC in the US of A.  Mr. Olbermann is a highly articulate chappie and is obviously a little angry with Mr. Bush over the FISA Bill.  This Bill would …

Due to the voracity of the stock markets and traders looking for new ways to wheel and deal, we will soon be trading in things we never thought of trading before.    For example, I was intrigued that Britney Spears has her own economy.  The …

I know I shouldn’t post this, as some folks might take note for illicit purposes, but what I’m writing is nothing new.  It’s already well-known by the criminal fraternity, so I might as well share it with you.  It’s also well known in the risk …

I know I shouldn’t post this, as some folks might take note for illicit purposes, but what I’m writing is nothing new.  It’s already well-known by the criminal fraternity, so I might as well share it with you.  It’s also well known in the risk …

I know I shouldn’t post this, as some folks might take note for illicit purposes, but what I’m writing is nothing new.  It’s already well-known by the criminal fraternity, so I might as well share it with you.  It’s also well known in the risk …

Another amazing area of change in the Middle East is the speed with which the banks can change core systems.  Many of the banks here have changed their core systems to offer improved wealth management services combined with Shari’ah compliant products.  This became clear when …

    There were a number of good presentations at my Middle Eastern conference, but the one that stood out was from the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) in Jordan.  Their CIO, Mohammad Hisham Al Khatib, presented their approach to technology and business continuity.  He’s been …

    There were a number of good presentations at my Middle Eastern conference, but the one that stood out was from the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) in Jordan.  Their CIO, Mohammad Hisham Al Khatib, presented their approach to technology and business continuity.  He’s been …

In a move that is sad in some ways, but unsurprising in others, ING emailed me today to say that they are closing down Our Virtual Holland (OVH), the experiment in online social networking in Second Life. I guess that they have realised, like many …

In a move that is sad in some ways, but unsurprising in others, ING emailed me today to say that they are closing down Our Virtual Holland (OVH), the experiment in online social networking in Second Life. I guess that they have realised, like many …

Chris Skinner gets in his rant about BA, and mine about Virgin follows. The scary thought, tho, is that the new CEO at Turquoise seems to think airlines are a model of customer service: In his presentation at Finexpo, Turquoise CEO Eli Lederman drew an …

Chris Skinner, who has established a global reputation as a banking provocateur, is in good form with his new book, “The Future of Banking in a Globalised World.” (John Wiley & Sons, 196 pages, £34.99) In it, he points out many of the more obvious …

Chris Skinner, who has established a global reputation as a banking provocateur, is in good form with his new book, “The Future of Banking in a Globalised World.” (John Wiley & Sons, 196 pages, £34.99) In it, he points out many of the more obvious …

Chris Skinner, who has established a global reputation as a banking provocateur, is in good form with his new book, “The Future of Banking in a Globalised World.” (John Wiley & Sons, 196 pages, £34.99) In it, he points out many of the more obvious …

I think the last 24 hours must be a record for the catalogue of amusing errors, in hindsight, experienced during a brief visit to the Middle East.  I’m here for a two-day conference and cannot believe the journey down here. It starts off with a …

I think the last 24 hours must be a record for the catalogue of amusing errors, in hindsight, experienced during a brief visit to the Middle East.  I’m here for a two-day conference and cannot believe the journey down here. It starts off with a …

I’m intrigued about bank organisational structures and how they have little integration, as a few recent projects I’ve been involved with have shown the cracks in these organisations.  In a retail bank, we were talking about internet, call centre, ATM and branch with the retail …

I’m intrigued about bank organisational structures and how they have little integration, as a few recent projects I’ve been involved with have shown the cracks in these organisations.  In a retail bank, we were talking about internet, call centre, ATM and branch with the retail …

I’m intrigued about bank organisational structures and how they have little integration, as a few recent projects I’ve been involved with have shown the cracks in these organisations.  In a retail bank, we were talking about internet, call centre, ATM and branch with the retail …