Research and publications

Insurance in the GCC
The GCC insurance industry offers opportunity for growth. Success will come by tackling four areas- automation, claims management, distribution and asset management.
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Reinventing Investment Banking in the GCC
The Gulf region's market for investment banking offers significant long-term potential. The economic downturn has offered an opportunity to change.
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Finding the New Klondike
After years of improving the infrastructure, the payments industry in Europe now faces restructuring.
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More financial institutions articles and publications

The Mortgage Business: Returning to Profitability
While profit margins have shrunk because of regulatory scrutiny and volatility in volumes, there is a "secret sauce" that can help return the mortgage business to profitability.
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Competing for Small Business P&C Insurance
Property and casualty insurance for small businesses is a challenge in today’s economy. To grow, insurers should focus on distribution, products and platforms.
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Globalization enters a new era: What course will it take?
March/April 2010 — Corporate Finance Review
Globalization is entering a new era and it will take collective, purposeful policies to ensure it continues.
By Paul Laudicina
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Retail Banking in Times of Crisis
After years of growth, retail banks posted shocking losses during the economic downturn. Amid a slow recovery and a lack of consumer confidence in the banking system, retail banks will have to realign their business models if they hope to attain pre-crisis profitability.
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GCC Banks: On the Road to Maturity
Banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries can breathe a little easier, as the factors that fueled their initial growth appear to be intact in the wake of the global economic crisis. However, with new pressures on the horizon, the laissez-faire approach of the past will not work.
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Seven Tenets of Risk Management in the Banking Industry
A fundamental issue was at the core of the economic crisis: Many of the world’s financiers lost sight of the responsibility to manage risk effectively. A renewed focus on risk management is the cure for the ailment that has hit the economy so hard.
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A Whole Lot Less Wealthy
Tens of millions of baby boomers—and their money—will be retiring over the next 20 years. That this demographic trend has collided with the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression is the topic of much discussion and speculation about the lasting impact of the "knock-on" effects.
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Private Equity Adapts to Darwinian Forces
The private equity industry is moving into a new era—where more hands-on operational ownership will replace the deal-driven approach that has served the industry so well. Rather than buying a troubled business, fixing it up and selling it quickly, PE companies are taking ownership.
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The New Bank Consumer
New products and channels are increasing costs and complexity. Banks today must please customers while maintaing margins.
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The Real Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Baby Boomers
To what extent has there been individual "wealth destruction" in the economic downturn and what will be its long-term impact?
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Five Forces Shaping the Banking Industry
Finding true success in next-generation banking.
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The Affluent Investor
Affluent customers, those with assets of €100,000 or more, make up a small percentage of total clients for banks, but they account for the majority of their financial assets. As people live longer and accumulate wealth past the age of 60, this segment is becoming increasingly important.
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Strategic Procurement for Financial Services
As the economic crisis continues, financial services companies are optimizing their procurement functions—and it's paying off.
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Cashing in on Cards
Getting more business value from debit.
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Beyond Segmentation
As the Brazilian economy has matured, so has its banking system. Excellent service and customer loyalty are no longer enough to gain a competitive advantage.
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Reinventing Banking
Financial crisis are nothing new. We offer seven possible avenues to rebuild the current banking industry.
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Managing Banks Beyond the Crisis: The New Financial Landscape
What appeared to be the largely American subprime mortgage problem of 2007 has become the global financial crisis of 2008.
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Insurance: Bridging Different Worlds
As growth through traditional sales channels loses steam, insurance companies and banks are tapping into new distribution channels outside their industry.
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Managing Banks Beyond the Crisis: The New Financial Landscape
What appeared to be the largely American subprime mortgage problem of 2007 has become the global financial crisis of 2008
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SEPA Shakeout: Challenges in the Cards and Payments
The competition will be fierce as SEPA triggers a complete overhaul of the payments landscape and European banks struggle to compete for payment volumes.
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Pruning 'Bad' Complexity
July/August 2008 — BAI Online
Customized products can help or hinder financial institutions depending on how they manage the attendant complexity.
By Joe Reifel, Christian Hagen and Eric Stettler
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More Than Just Lip Service
A midsized GCC bank with worldclass customer service could increase yearly profits by $50 million to $150 million.
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Creating New Jobs and Value with Private Equity
Private equity is changing the face of business—and in ways that might surprise you. Firms backed by private equity pursue strategies that every company, troubled or not, can learn from.
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Bank Consolidation in the GCC: Myth or Mania?
The industry is not on the brink of consolidation – yet. Nevertheless, regional players should further consolidate now to prepare for challenges ahead.
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Adopting a Lean Mindset
Today's service industries are in a conundrum. To stay competitive and profitable, companies must focus on keeping labor costs low, but the increased demand for speedy service requires more labor.
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Investment Firms Improve, Retail Banks Slip
Investment firms are outperforming banks in the highly competitive race to increase profitability and gain market share, according to results of A.T. Kearney’s annual Financial Institutions Organic Growth Index.
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Battling the Beast: Complexity vs. Customization
In some ways, the financial services industry is where the automakers were in the 1970s, when every feature of a car was custom designed.
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Research & publications archive