As Thailand prepares for elections, foreign banks are looking around for openings in a market with room for growth. Simon Montlake reports from Bangkok.

Diversification by banks away from industry and into retail indicates Russia’s growing banking prowess.

Jan Cienski in Prague reports on Erste Bank’s hugely successful expansion into the countries that once formed the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

BBVA may have grabbed the headlines for missed acquisitions but a bank that posts 20% a year profits growth, that pays a top return on equity as well as being a byword for prudence cannot be all bad, as Karina Robinson discovers.

Banks and insurers must adopt an integrated view of risk and align it with business strategy if they want to create value for shareholders. Michael Imeson summarises discussions at the second of three risk management round tables hosted by The Banker, this time in London.

In bull markets it is easy to forget about counterparty credit risk, but recent turmoil has brought it to the fore and placed efficient management of such risk back on the agenda. Natasha de Terán reports.

Personal loans have been a significant chunk of the credit market in the Gulf in recent years, with volumes being driven high by oil prices. Andrew Cunningham predicts slower growth prospects for the near future.

The government’s reforms and privatisation plans have paid off to create a banking sector that is full of activity, writes Nadine Marroushi in Cairo.

The financial services sector in Saudi Arabia is benefiting from new policies aimed at attracting foreign investors, and creating a more sophisticated market, write Nadine Marroushi and Jon Marks.

Celent study looks at mobile banking vendors while IFAD & IADB examines the burgeoning remittance market.