Latest articles from Editor’s blog

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

Do your customer surveys suck?

June 27, 2017

The feedback economy is largely linked to the restaurant and travel industries but banks could benefit from taking it more seriously, writes Brian Caplen.

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

When small business goes global

June 20, 2017

With Amazon lending $1bn over the past 12 months to sellers on its platform, banks need to overhaul their SME and trade finance operations or face losing the business, writes Brian Caplen.

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

Rising rates will not increase European bank profits

June 7, 2017

The salvation for depressed European bank earnings is supposed to be rising interest rates. But, writes Brian Caplen, against a backdrop of worsening credit and tougher regulation this may not play out as well as expected.

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

Using tech the old-fashioned way

June 6, 2017

Hi-tech travelling bankers can aid banks in both improving customer relationships and assessing credit – two banking skills some fear are in decline, writes Brian Caplen.

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

Why Moody’s is right about China

May 30, 2017

Rating agency Moody's got a stiff rebuke from China’s finance ministry following its sovereign downgrade but the rationale is realistic and measured, writes Brian Caplen.

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

What can banks learn from GE?

May 23, 2017

In forging their digital strategy, banks have focused too heavily on consumer companies such as Facebook and Netflix. They should, writes Brian Caplen, look instead at what GE is doing.

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

Waking up to WannaCry

May 16, 2017

The IT costs of running a bank are already horrendous. But as the recent ransomware attack shows, any bank that doesn’t install the latest software and keep it updated is asking for trouble, writes Brian Caplen.

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

​Why German taxpayers are Europe’s weak link

May 9, 2017

With Emmanuel Macron’s victory in France, the populist threat to the EU has receded. But, asks Brian Caplen, longer term the bigger issue is who will pay for it?

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

Have Western economies hit 'peak stuff'?

May 2, 2017

Millennials think doing things is more important than buying things. Brian Caplen assesses what this means for the banks when they decide on credit card and personal loan limits.

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Brian Caplen blog 2016

Derisking – does the damage outweigh the gains?

April 25, 2017

The problems caused by anti-money laundering regulation have hit smaller countries, smaller banks and therefore the poorer members of society. Brian Caplen asks if matters have gone too far.

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