Chris Skinner's blog Shaping the future of finance

I recently encountered an interesting conversation between two CIOs of two major European banks.  I won’t say anything more than one was a major French bank and the other a major Dutch bank who both share the same building. The first and second floor are …

The government intends to scrap the controversial national identity card program. Instead, the Home Office is working with NATO and the US Department of Homeland Security to create a globally recognised standard for identity management using the latest chip designs from VeriChip Corporation. The program …

The government intends to scrap the controversial national identity card program. Instead, the Home Office is working with NATO and the US Department of Homeland Security to create a globally recognised standard for identity management using the latest chip designs from VeriChip Corporation. The program …

The government intends to scrap the controversial national identity card program. Instead, the Home Office is working with NATO and the US Department of Homeland Security to create a globally recognised standard for identity management using the latest chip designs from VeriChip Corporation. The program …

The government intends to scrap the controversial national identity card program. Instead, the Home Office is working with NATO and the US Department of Homeland Security to create a globally recognised standard for identity management using the latest chip designs from VeriChip Corporation. The program …

The government intends to scrap the controversial national identity card program. Instead, the Home Office is working with NATO and the US Department of Homeland Security to create a globally recognised standard for identity management using the latest chip designs from VeriChip Corporation. The program …

Click here, here and especially here to find out …

It must be that time of year, e.g. it’s quiet in the summer so let’s release our research and get the headlines.  After IBM’s report yesterday, I then got KPMG’s report on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) today.  This report proves interesting in that it makes it …

IBM sent me a report this morning called “Get global. Get specialized. Or get out. Unexpected lessons in global financial markets.” The report’s theme is that the financial markets will enjoy dramatic growth except that financial firms do not have strategies to capitalize on this …

IBM sent me a report this morning called “Get global. Get specialized. Or get out. Unexpected lessons in global financial markets.” The report’s theme is that the financial markets will enjoy dramatic growth except that financial firms do not have strategies to capitalize on this …

IBM sent me a report this morning called “Get global. Get specialized. Or get out. Unexpected lessons in global financial markets.” The report’s theme is that the financial markets will enjoy dramatic growth except that financial firms do not have strategies to capitalize on this …

Download The Changing Face of Payments Download European Payments Survey 2012

Download The Changing Face of Payments Download European Payments Survey 2012

Many years ago, I read a book by Bernard Lietaer on the Future of Money, which expounded the ideas of community currencies.   These are currencies where you exchange time and other measures of value that are relevant to communities, rather than money which is referred …

Leveraging impartial research with over 50 financial institutions in 2007, a team of 15 technology vendors, with combined revenue of over €100 billion, has now targeted key hot spots which financial institutions face to comply with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID). Over 60% …

Leveraging impartial research with over 50 financial institutions in 2007, a team of 15 technology vendors, with combined revenue of over €100 billion, has now targeted key hot spots which financial institutions face to comply with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID). Over 60% …

I've recently been enjoying the spat between insurers and internet providers, especially as this will spill-over into banking before too long. Here's why. Direct Line – owned by Royal Bank of Scotland – is getting fed up with websites that compare insurance quotes. As a …

Yesterday was a fascinating day full of presentations on risk in the morning from a bunch of old CRO’s (Chief Risk Officers) followed by a lunch with a crock of CIO’s (Chief Information Officers).  In fact, there was even one CIO who became a CRO …

Yesterday was a fascinating day full of presentations on risk in the morning from a bunch of old CRO’s (Chief Risk Officers) followed by a lunch with a crock of CIO’s (Chief Information Officers).  In fact, there was even one CIO who became a CRO …

We run regular meetings at the Financial Services Club, and launched in Ireland last year.  The forthcoming event in Dublin on 14th June is talking about various things from mobile to prepaid and it prompted Kieron Guilfoyle, CEO of 3V, to send me details of …

One of the highlights of the year for me so far has been my recent visit to Shanghai. Shanghai is a great sprawling new City with life pouring out of every street corner, but that wasn't the reason why this was a highlight. The reason …

Same bank channel and almost the same bank time … Continuing our numbers story we move to a large galaxy known as Canary Wharf on the outer limits of the London Universe, and focus upon a large, 45 floor, gleaming office block … yes, it's …

Same bank channel and almost the same bank time … Continuing our numbers story we move to a large galaxy known as Canary Wharf on the outer limits of the London Universe, and focus upon a large, 45 floor, gleaming office block … yes, it's …

Same bank channel and almost the same bank time … Continuing our numbers story we move to a large galaxy known as Canary Wharf on the outer limits of the London Universe, and focus upon a large, 45 floor, gleaming office block … yes, it's …

PayPal 100 years old – surely not? Well no. PayPal's not 100 years old. In a remarkably understated way though, which no-one noticed – not even PayPal – the California-based payments platform is celebrating a milestone. In March 2007, PayPal celebrated being 100 months old. …

PayPal 100 years old – surely not? Well no. PayPal's not 100 years old. In a remarkably understated way though, which no-one noticed – not even PayPal – the California-based payments platform is celebrating a milestone. In March 2007, PayPal celebrated being 100 months old. …

At a recent conference, one of the speakers started by saying: "Alpha is what it is all about." He got this look of interest from half the audience and confusion from the other half. After all, much of what goes on in the investment markets …

At a recent conference, one of the speakers started by saying: "Alpha is what it is all about." He got this look of interest from half the audience and confusion from the other half. After all, much of what goes on in the investment markets …