Cloud-native technology is revolutionizing not only software development but also banking operations, as banks that have already begun employing it are finding out. Is it hype or the inevitable future of banking? Cloud native’s benefits that include fast innovation, low cost, low risk, scalability and potential for profitable niches speak for themselves, and banks would do well to listen!
SWIFT has a long history of enabling financial institutions to communicate with each other reliably and securely; thousands of banks use the SWIFT network for interbank messaging. Faced with the twin threats of intensifying cybercrime and growing compliance requirements, banks are scrambling to be secure and compliant while also profitable. SWIFT has developed robust financial-crime solutions that assist its members to comply with the gamut of regulations—from AML to KYC—profitably.
Since trade finance is lifeblood of global business, it has a positive role to play in driving sustainable practices. Here, banks can lead by example: through collaborative efforts, they can play a crucial role in encouraging a diverse network of counterparties to safeguard environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, while also stimulating growth. So, how can “sustainable trade” be fully realized to meet these ends?
Ecuador, on South America’s northwest coast, is known for its relatively high growth and income and appropriately competitive banking sector. Since 1972, Banco del Pacifico has risen above its peers by serving its customers through the most innovative means available. In our interview, CEO Efrain Vieira Herrera explains how Banco del Pacifico is continuing to break through the traditional boundaries of Ecuadorian banking to new frontiers, much to the delight of its customers.
Costa Rica has been one of Central America’s most prosperous and stable countries, providing many opportunities for its financial sector to flourish—despite the government’s recent liquidity crisis. BAC Credomatic Costa Rica, with its emphasis on placing the customer in the centre, has made the best use of the advantages its home country offers. Country Manager Federico Odio González gave us a run-down on BAC’s commitment to streamlining while improving its operations.
First Global Bank is living up to its name by being the first to introduce a number of banking breakthroughs in Jamaica. True to its mission statement, FGB seeks to empower people to get ahead in life and business. International Banker spoke with its president and CEO, Mariame McIntosh Robinson, and vice president of corporate banking, Norman Thompson, to learn more about what this forward-looking bank is up to these days.
National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited has been meeting the needs of the residents of Jamaica for the past 182 years. Despite its long history, it has adapted with changing times and is dedicated to continually reinventing itself. In our interview with him, President and Group CEO Patrick Hylton explains NCB Financial Group Limited’s plans to achieve such goals as building a world-class digital experience for its customers and accelerating its regional expansion.
Brexit looms large over all aspects of the UK’s banking sector, including hiring plans. Continued uncertainty about what direction the UK/EU divorce proceedings will go (if they go at all) has organisations on edge, but that didn’t stop them from hiring last year, research shows. Retaining existing top-notch talent was a priority, but attracting new, highly skilled professionals was also a common goal, with UK banks topping the hiring charts.
Private investment bank VACE Partners recognizes that it is only as strong as its team is; combining “intelligence, energy and enthusiasm with experience, ability, relationships and knowledge” has been VACE’s winning formula, enabling it to close on several important deals since its inception a decade ago. International Banker spoke with Ricardo Cervera and Carlos Vara, managing directors and founding partners, to learn more about this rising star on Mexico’s financial horizon.
The landlocked Central Asian country of Kazakhstan is vast in diversity, natural resources and land size but relatively small in population per square kilometer, presenting a challenge for its domestic financial-services providers. ForteBank has been striving to reach customers country-wide through its unique blend of top-of-the-line products and services, with a growing emphasis on digital solutions. In our interview, CEO Guram Andronikashvili discusses the bank’s recent successes and plans for the future.