The Dominican Republic’s offshore banking centre, the International Financial Center of the Americas, is due to open in 2009 and the man who planned the project believes it will redefine perceptions of the country.

Putting its worst banking crisis behind it, the Dominican Republic is concentrating on strengthening its currency, reaching new agreements with the IMF and successful debt exchange. Tom Blass reports.

Bigger banks need skilled staff as well as good governance and regulation in the tougher competitive environment. James Eedes reports on the challenges.

Nigeria’s domestic banks share regional ambitions, which could be facilitated by regional integration. But they are making little headway and the political forces for union are moving at a snail’s pace, says Stuart Theobald.

James Eedes examines how the younger, more dynamic banks line up competitively against their well-established, but antiquated, peers and finds much talk but a lack of clear strategy.

Only a handful of foreign banks have a presence in Nigeria but as the its economy grows rapidly, more international banks are considering the opportunities the country offers.

Nigerian banks are ignoring small businesses and, without a formal microlending industry, the prospects of this changing are bleak. Stuart Theobald reports.

With 84% of money in circulation outside the banking system, banks have little impact on Nigeria’s population, providing few consumer retail services and virtually no consumer lending.

Nigerian banks are improving their corporate and investment banking capabilities but there is still some way to go, writes Stuart Theobald.

In the post-consolidation era, stronger capitalisation of the banks will result in stiffer competition. Stuart Theobald sizes up the players, old and new.