Non-banks have become systemically important, and so regulating these institutions needs to become a priority for policy-makers.

A new work by Thomas Piketty, chronicling the rise of income inequality, has become an unlikely best seller. But, while the French economist's observations about the uneven distribution of wealth certainly ring true, the solutions he offers to this growing problem are not nearly radical enough.

Many younger customers feel let down by their bank's digital offering, specifically the lack of a social media element. And most banks do not seem to know how to placate this growing market segment.

Data security is big business, as evidenced by the impact of the 'Heartbleed' bug, and it is an area that banks should be instinctively moving towards.

In choosing their next leader, Indians are essentially having to choose between economic and political stability, with neither of the two major candidates likely to satisfy on both scores. 

As women's economic empowerment continues to rise, while overall countrywide growth slows, banks must do more to meet the expectations of their female clients and tap into this often neglected and under-served market. 

Brazil's economy may be growing, but not fast enough. Standard & Poor's sovereign downgrade, on the eve of this year's Inter-American Development Bank in Brazil, is a call to action for a country in desperate need of economic reform.

With emerging economies accounting for a growing proportion of global trade and finance, their strategic decisions have the potential to rock the global markets.

The resignation of the CEO of the UK's Co-operative Group shows that running any bank – listed or co-operative – is fraught with difficulties. But it does not mean that the co-operative model is completely unfeasible.

In Nigeria, ousted central bank governor Lamido Sanusi is under scrutiny. However, on an international level, it is the government that should be worrying about its reputation.