The effects of eurozone deleveraging on central and eastern Europe should not be exaggerated, but certain countries look particularly exposed, especially in the Balkans. And the principles of European integration are under pressure.
Latest articles from Management & Strategy

Isbank chief builds solid foundations for tougher times
November 1, 2011Turkey’s largest bank, Isbank, enjoyed return on equity of almost 20% in 2010, but new chief executive Adnan Bali is preparing for any fallout from the eurozone crisis and tightening margins in the competitive domestic market.

Strong domestic network helps Crédit Agricole during crisis
October 3, 2011French giant Crédit Agricole has been buffeted by speculation surrounding the fate of the eurozone, but CEO Jean-Paul Chifflet explains how the right combination of international expansion and domestic branch network has kept the bank well positioned.
Top 500 Banking Brands
January 28, 2011In a still-volatile financial climate, building and maintaining a strong brand is a vital part of every bank's operations. The Banker's Top 500 Banking Brands listing ranks the leading names.
What the world's banks will be doing in 2011
January 6, 2011The past few years have been as unpredictable as they have been torrid within the banking world. Those who have survived the crisis in good health - the heads of the banks that were winners in our Bank of the Year Awards - tell The Banker of their plans and expectations for 2011. Edited by Anindita Ghosh

Bank 2.0: giving customers what they want
January 6, 2011In future decades, banks will have to let go of their fixation with traditional means of interacting with the customer and instead offer solutions that meet the public's growing expectation of accessing banking services wherever and whenever they need them.

Alessandro Profumo: understand the turmoil to exploit new opportunities
December 23, 2010The global banking system has been shaken to its core and only by understanding what lay behind the crisis can banks hope to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Standard Chartered's Peter Sands on the value of universal banks
December 23, 2010Well-run and regulated international universal banks have an essential role to play in both the global recovery and the financial system at large.

UniCredit's new leader still has some old problems
December 23, 2010Federico Ghizzoni, UniCredit's new CEO, appears to strike the right personal balance between the group's Italian origins and its pan-European reach. But some of the dilemmas that dragged down his predecessor, Alessandro Profumo, need resolving. Writer Philip Alexander

New priorities in financial marketing
December 8, 2010Rebuilding customer trust is probably the top priority for bank marketing and communications executives today. Also high on the agenda are exploiting the opportunities presented by social media, dealing with customer complaints and improving customer data management.