AI has still to make its presence felt in Africa's banking sector, but brings with it opportunities to bank the unbanked and engage with the continent's youthful population. However, as Kit Gillet reports, Africa's unique needs mean achieving these goals is not straightforward.
Low interest rates and lacklustre profitability could spark consolidation in the German banking sector. Despite these challenges, the system remains well capitalised with low NPLs and the prospect of benefiting from Brexit, as Kit Gillet reports.
Blockaded by several influential Arab countries since June 2017, Qatari banks have had to cope with ratings downgrades and an outflow of deposits. However, as Kit Gillet reports, they are still posting impressive profits and seem unfazed by such geopolitical unrest.
With one of the oldest Islamic banking sectors in the world, Kuwait continues to show impressive growth and adaptability in the industry. Now authorities in the country are looking to become big hitters on a regional and global level. Kit Gillet and James King report.
As sharia-compliant finance grows and institutions embrace mobile and internet banking, observers believe the opportunities offered by Islamic fintech will become irresistible to the sector – despite its lack of global standards. Kit Gillet reports.
Joseph Abraham joined Qatar’s Commercial Bank as group CEO in 2016, after eight years as CEO of ANZ Indonesia, arriving at a time of low oil prices and regional tension. He tells Kit Gillet about efforts to refocus the bank, as well as finding opportunities in adversity.
Low oil prices have dented Qatar's economic success story of late but its banks are thriving. Some are looking to domestic consolidation for the next phase of growth, others to foreign acquisitions, while a deal that will create the region’s biggest Islamic bank is in the pipeline. Kit Gillet reports.
Africa’s Tripartite Free Trade Area would reduce regional tariffs and create a pan-African single market, to aid development and cash in on a growing middle class in the continent. But with member countries often belonging to multiple economic areas, progress is both complex and slow, as Kit Gillet reports.