The fact that many financial firms still have not embraced straight-through processing shows just how difficult it is to overhaul processes and how few CIOs are willing to step up to the challenge.

Is Facebook banking finally here? Commonwealth Bank of Australia and India's ICICI Bank seem to think so, and the social media site's decision to drop its credit system shows it is moving in the right direction.

Is Fidor Bank's online offering the most innovative bank concept yet?

Banks are embracing the online community, but do they really understand social finance?

Innovation starts by redefining the competitive battleground, as has been demonstrated so impressively by Apple. But are banks up to the challenge? 

Despite calls for fewer bank branches and for less cash to be in circulation, branch numbers are on the rise in some countries. But why?

For all the talk about revolutions in banking, nothing much has changed yet. But do the big banks have to change? For all the cost, investment, marketing, effort, hurdles and barriers new players have to get through, any serious competition seems unlikely.

As banking by mobile telephone takes off in the developing world, should banks be wary or welcoming of this progress?

Banks agree that data is key to the growth of their business but they are being outclassed in its usage by companies that grew up on the internet.

Recent advances in mobile technology may be exciting, but the real focus for the future of mobile payments is the chip.