Global Banking

FinTech | Trends
The launch of the blockchain-enabled asset trading platform Nasdaq Linq, Goldman Sachs’ filing of a patent for a securities settlement system based on a new virtual currency called SETLcoin, and the continued rise of blockchain banking consortium R3 all point to a race by financial institutions to harness the power of the blockchain.

The country’s dominant bank sees future growth coming from the small-business market and from regional customers.

Traditional banks are pulling back from lending to small and midsize businesses. Just as happened in the US, funds are filling the void.

Riding a wave of government spending, Kuwait’s financial institutions are thriving despite the drop in petroleum revenues—for now.

Corporate treasurers are parking more cash in separately managed accounts, which can be customized to their investment needs—and often beat money-market-fund returns.

The Full Listing Of Global, Regional, and Country Awards Winners for The Best Digital Banks of 2015

Q+A with Hubert Jolly, Managing Director, Head of Channel & Enterprise Services, Treasury & Trade Solutions at Citi

Q+A with Alex Chen, Executive Vice President of Ctbc Bank

Country Report | Israel
Chinese investors flock to the nation’s cutting-edge tech sector.

Nations slash subsidies in the face of cheap oil and regional conflicts.

The World’s Best Digital Bank Awards was preceded this year by the inaugural Global Finance Digital Bank Conference, held in London. Three panels of digital banking experts shared their experiences of competing against nontraditional providers in the financial technology space.

Q+A with Juraj Bojkovský, Director Of Electronic Distribution Channels At Tatra banka

Capital Markets | Deal Activity
This could be a record year for mergers and acquisitions, surpassing the 2007 peak in the US and globally. But optimism is waning regarding the outlook for 2016.

Puerto Rico
He has become the face of Puerto Rico’s woes, warning in media interview after interview of its inability to pay its bills and serving as the island’s bearer of bad financial news.

Iceland has recovered smartly from the worst recession in its history. Now it must keep inflation at bay—and that might require a monetary overhaul.

Q+A with Asit Oberoi, Senior President And Chief Operating Officer, YES Bank

Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari announced his new cabinet in November, appointing former banker and government official Kemi Adeosun minister of Finance.

The world’s biggest banks are cutting jobs and shrinking operations.

Trends | Fintech
China’s Big Three Internet and e-commerce companies—Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent—are so big they are referred to collectively as BAT, and all three have received banking licenses and scaled up their e-commerce and finance platforms.

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg call on old and new strengths to jump-start growth.