Leading Turkish bank Garanti is the first to offer, send and receive functions of the Western Union Money Transfersm service through its own website, as Ali Fuat Erbil, assistant general manager of Garanti Bank, explains.
Western Europe
Latest articles from Western Europe
Lloyds recapitalisation was both trailblazing and rehabilitating
February 1, 2010The £22.5bn recapitalisation of Lloyds Banking Group last November not only kept the institution free from outright government control, but helped to rehabilitate the financial markets. Writer Edward Russell-Walling
The differing strategies of Germany's private banks
December 30, 2009Deutsche Bank's planned takeover of Sal Oppenheim will leave the German private banking sector dominated by two key players. However, Deutsche and Commerzbank are pursuing very different strategies. Writer Michael Marray
Irish government hopes its bad bank will work
December 30, 2009The Irish government has opted for a 'bad bank' to save the nation's finances by buying up bad loans. With some experts unconvinced this was the best solution, only time will tell if the gamble pays off. Writer Philippa Maister
Emilio Botín
December 30, 2009The chairman of The Banker's Bank of the Year, Banco Santander, describes why the global crisis has largely bypassed his bank, and how the company's focus on customer service and efficiency will help its acquisitions across Europe, Latin America and the US to thrive.
Ali Babacan
December 30, 2009Ali Babacan, finance minister and deputy prime minister of Turkey
Turkey's finance minister and deputy prime minister explains how the Turkish banking system survived the financial crisis relatively unscathed and outlines the country's economic policy for 2010 and beyond.
The participation principle
December 30, 2009Yunus Nacar, CEO of Türkiye Finans
Turkey's Islamic participation banks are becoming more ambitious, but are still looking for a model that competes more effectively with the conventional market. Writer James Gavin
Financial crisis a catalyst for new entrants to UK banking
December 30, 2009As customer dissatisfaction with the UK's existing high street banks intensifies, new entrants are sprouting - many of which are extensions of established retail brands, striving to create the winning formula using their innate consumer insight. Will these new operations pose a sustained threat to the existing ones? Writer Michelle Price
Christine Lagarde - Interview
December 23, 2009The no-nonsense style of France’s finance minister has won her many admirers. She tells The Banker of how she intends to tackle the hardest task of her tenure, that of regulating France and Europe’s post-crisis banking landscape. Writer Silvia Pavoni
Austria & Italy: Diversification begins to deliver
November 27, 2009In early 2009, shares in Austrian and Italian banks were pummelled by investors fearing that their exposure to central and eastern Europe would threaten balance sheets. Now they are fighting back, and staying safely in profit. Writer Philip Alexander