Instead of asking tough questions about the macroeconomy and shareholder pressure, people are blaming bankers for the credit crisis.

Some banks are making efforts to engage with people through virtual worlds and social networks on the internet but their knowledge of this area is still limited – and being excluded by corporate firewalls does not help, writes Chris Skinner.

The credit crisis has brought the ABS market to near standstill. However, RBS has remained active in the field and used its healthy relationship with VW to good effect, reports Edward Russell-Walling.

Could Google revolutionise the world of online banking? Its involvement as a platform is looking increasingly likely.

A regulatory backlash is almost certain to follow the current trail of bail-outs and mortgage guarantees. Banks must ensure they have a say in any reform process or face the burden of further legislation.

A recent encounter with a business banker proved that, as far as financial services are concerned, the days of human relationships and judgement calls are over. The computerised process is king. By Chris Skinner.

So-called ‘frontier markets’ hold no fears for some investors. Edward Russell-Walling reports on how broker-cum-investment bank Exotix went digging for profits in the zinc mines of Yemen.

Yunus is creating another new financial model to include the poor in global capitalism – and still more models are needed.

Jumpy governments should not be allowed to tinker with economic policies at times of crisis without a review of the potential effects.

It is high time that retail banks stopped thinking of electronic channels as extensions of the branch and started thinking about the electronic structure as the foundation upon which all the channels, including the branch, are built. By Chris Skinner.