When looking for models to emulate, banks are better off picking Apple rather than Google – Apple, after all, has branches. 

Turmoil in the financial markets has shifted the focus of banks from growth and innovation to risk management. But with non-banks diversifying across the banking business, now more than ever it is essential that banks look for new ways to differentiate themselves from the competition and prove the value of the traditional banking outlet

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. 

Customers rather than regulators will force major changes in banking.

Applying a blanket regulation to restrict all high-frequency trading will hinder financial institutions' ability to deal with abnormal market conditions.

Regulators need to get their interpretations right if the industry is expected to stick to the rules.

It is time for the banks to embrace Web 2.0 by putting the customer in control of how they receive financial services.