With private sector credit growth negligible and non-performing loans still high, foreign-owned banks may need to rethink their strategies in Romania.

A Surendran, a general manager and head of international banking with Federal Bank of India, tells The Banker  about the bank's innovative payments strategy designed to improve access to banking channels and boost the provision of electronic transactions.

Turkish banks are following the lead of the country’s vibrant export sector and expanding into new regional markets, but their strategies vary widely.

Local banks in the Middle East have continued to perform strongly despite the global financial downturn. The strategies of three such institutions – state-owned National Bank of Abu Dhabi, local-owned Qatar National Bank and retail franchise Emirates NBD – help to explain such a strong performance.