Leader of the pack: Kazakhstan's Kazkommertsbank topped The Banker's Top 75 CIS Banks ranking
High capital ratios and a huge pre-emptive increase in provisioning help explain why the dire predictions for CIS banks at the start of 2009 proved unfounded. Writer Philip Alexander
There is considerable investor interest in the debt collection business in Russia, but achieving growth is not straightforward, even though the industry is still young. Writer Philip Alexander
The Russian consumer lending boom came to an abrupt end in late 2008, but convergence between consumer finance and traditional retail banking is providing the tools for sustainable growth. Writer Philip Alexander
Kazakhstan's banks are divided between those that are cash-strapped and looking at restructuring, and cash-rich survivors trying to find new lending opportunities. Writer Philip Alexander
Mohammad Daud Bakar, a Malaysian sharia scholar
Cross-border standardisation and rigorous product development processes will help to diversify the sharia-compliant financial markets. Writer Philip Alexander
Jean-Eric Pacini, head of structured products sales for BNP Paribas in London
When the bear market left investors with structured products that were deeply out of the money, investment banks drafted rescue plans to win back client loyalty. Writer Philip Alexander
Foreign policy, fiscal pressures, financial reforms and far-reaching litigation are all provoking a flow of cases that threaten to overburden international banks doing business in the US. But the banks are fighting back. Philip Alexander reports.
State-owned development bank Vnesheconombank became a vital tool for the Russian government to combat the financial crisis, not only at home but also in neighbouring countries. The bank's chairman explains how it is exiting the assistance phase and preparing a long-term role in the economy. Writer Philip Alexander
Poland has emerged as the most resilient economy in the EU during the global slowdown. However, The Banker's European Finance Minister of the Year is determined to stay ahead of the pack, and is now prioritising bringing down the country's budget deficit. Writer Philip Alexander
Flooded with Scandinavian liquidity during the boom years, Latvia has suffered the most severe bust in the EU and bankers are devising a new business model while clearing up the consequences of the old one. Writer Philip Alexander
