Volatilities in financial markets - as well as structural changes, and an altered view on risk within financial institutions - are having a deep and lasting impact on the funding environment for companies. And the constraints currently being felt within funding sources such as banks are likely to become structural due to the proposed regulatory changes brought about as an understandable response to the 2008 banking crisis - meaning that alternative sources of finance will rise in importance. The aim of this white paper is to contribute to the debates emerging from these trends.

Volatilities in financial markets - as well as structural changes, and an altered view on risk within financial institutions - are having a deep and lasting impact on the funding environment for companies. And the constraints currently being felt within funding sources such as banks are likely to become structural due to the proposed regulatory changes brought about as an understandable response to the 2008 banking crisis - meaning that alternative sources of finance will rise in importance. The aim of this white paper is to contribute to the debates emerging from these trends.

This paper aims to elaborate on the emerging trends in the banking industry and their impact on the future of banking. It explains how firms can become sustainable even amid financial crises. It also presents a framework with which changes in the macroeconomic environment can be detected and their effect on the internal logic of a firm can be interpreted; this framework is intended to set the ground for a new banking business model that can cope with the changing landscape.

The social media boom has coincided with the global financial crisis. This means that banks are being most talked about at the time when they are least popular, and on social media, every comment has the potential to go viral. To complicate matters further, the bank's ability to respond is often restricted by concerns about regulatory compliance, privacy and security. This paper aims to explore ways in which banks can reverse the tide of negative sentiment, and get customer opinion to work in their favour, rather than against them.

Client onboarding is emerging as a major focal point for banks and financial institutions, which are grappling with evolving market dynamics, stiff competition, regulatory scrutiny and operational overheads. This area offers banks an opportunity to expand to new geographies, acquire newer and stronger businesses and establish themselves as best in class. Banks therefore need to streamline the onboarding process and offer a customized client service.

The payments industry is experiencing significant change. This is driven by innovations across industries such as retail, telecom, banking and financial services combined with changes in the way in which consumers communicate and make purchases. Banks and payments processors are under pressure from regulations, alternative payment processors and a growing variety of payment channels. Is there enough space for everyone in this new paradigm?