As the financial and digital landscape rapidly evolves, corporate treasurers are at the forefront of navigating emerging payment trends. To succeed, preparation is key.

The UAE’s decision to take on the mantle of global leadership on climate change by hosting the COP28 conference has galvanised the private sector to take action. Companies are aligning their corporate strategies with the country’s roadmap to achieve net zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and making their own commitments.

Christina Ma, Head of Global Banking for Asia Pacific at HSBC, discusses the digital revolution happening in the financial sector – and HSBC’s pivotal role in leading the transformation.

The private banking arm of OCBC is demonstrating differentiation and leadership on sustainability in the region.

The importance, opportunities and challenges of mainstreaming transition finance across the continent

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) has recently made strategic moves to position itself as a corporate and investment banking leader in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, signifying a shift in the institution's focus, capabilities, and commitment to its clients.

When it comes to banking, proximity and accessibility to people matter.

In the world of finance, partnerships often hold the key to success. The relationship between HSBC and fintech innovator Saxo proves the case.

Egypt has made strides towards financial inclusion as part of the country’s Vision 2030 strategy. Commercial International Bank (CIB) is one bank that is playing an important role is supporting the issue and addressing challenges around women’s economic empowerment.

Up to 60 selected participants will benefit from one year’s access to online courses on Euromoney Learning On-Demand, powered by Finance Unlocked

Hussein Abaza, CEO and managing director, Commercial International Bank, discusses how Egypt’s economic transformation plan has enabled the country to position itself as a trade and investment gateway to Africa.

While many financial institutions support good causes and run discrete projects to promote community well-being, Iberian leader CaixaBank has taken a unique, much longer-term approach to the idea of banking with a positive social impact.

The successful integration of Alpha Bank Albania has further boosted OTP Bank Albania’s status as the rising star of the country’s banking sector.

In this third article of a series, Adrienne Bloom, head of Asia Pacific financial institutions corporate banking at Bank of America, and Jennifer Cheung, head of Hong Kong corporate banking, explain how the bank works with clients to help them re-engineer their business and achieve their sustainability commitments.

Digital transformation is a key component of Egypt’s Vision 2030 strategy. Along with other key initiatives (ICT 2030 and Digital Egypt) it is expected to further accelerate the development of the country’s digital economy and potentially provide a blueprint for other African countries.

The UAE’s Mashreq has for years invested shrewdly in growing and developing its digital banking capabilities. As that investment continues to deliver returns, group CEO Ahmed Abdelaal explains the vision behind the success and highlights the areas where the bank is investing next.

Seeking diversification and access to high-growth markets across Africa, Egyptian banks such as Commercial International Bank have pursued select investment and M&A opportunities in recent years. The investments are paying off.

Amid global economic turbulence and uncertainty, Asean is demonstrating the type of resilience and growth other regions would be envious of. There are good reasons for this and why Asean could become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2030

The metaverse is barely three years old as a business concept outside its sci-fi beginnings. Expectations ran far ahead of reality but banks that have invested slowly and wisely in all of the associated technologies are doing the right thing. The metaverse is here to stay.

Digital banking continues to be a battleground for banks as they seek to modernise, gain a competitive advantage and ultimately deliver a better and swifter experience to their customers.

The Dominican Republic’s Banreservas has had a busy and productive 12 months including delivering some record-setting financial results for 2022, and launching an ambitious international expansion plan.

While the weakness in the US commercial market remains top of mind for most investors, the story in Asia is different, argues Chew Chong Lim, managing director and global head of real estate, institutional banking group, DBS Bank

It is no secret that cloud computing technology has revolutionised the financial services industry over the last few years. Its capabilities include enabling companies to scale their resources, ensure disaster recovery, extend their reach globally and enhance testing and development environments. For banks in particular, these capabilities present significant opportunities.

Banks are prime targets for cybercriminals who are always looking for new ways to steal money, data, and customer information. Institutions are effectively in a constant battle of innovation, requiring them to invest heavily to help predict and combat emerging threats from sophisticated criminals.

BRI has set out a vision to support financial inclusion efforts in Indonesia, and the bank's digital transformation strategy is one way of helping it achieve this goal. In an interview, Agus Noorsanto, BRI director of wholesale and institutional business discusses BRI’s vision, expansion plans and how it's leveraging digital technologies to enhance the customer experience and drive growth.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will host its 32nd annual meeting and business forum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 16 -18 May 2023.

There is growing hope among banking and business leaders that the country’s next government can unlock and accelerate needed transformational development and economic reform. Without it, Kuwait risks falling further behind.

In the second in a series of articles, Leo Weng, treasury director, APAC, at Avery Dennison joins Rakshith Kundha, head of trade and supply chain finance, APAC, global transaction services at Bank of America, to discuss the importance of driving ESG goals across the supply chain.

Cross-border payments are entering an exciting new era with the global introduction of the data-rich ISO 20022 standard. To find out what outcomes banks and customers can look forward to, Swift's Stephen Lindsay spoke to Isabel Schmidt, co-head of payment products, BNY Mellon.

Mashreq has been transforming its corporate and investment banking group (CIBG) over the past few years. In an interview, Joel Van Dusen, head of CIBG, explains the need for change, where investment has focused, and how how the bank is leveraging its capabilities to drive growth.

There has never been a time in the history of capitalism when an acronym has been so influential. ESG – or environmental, social, and governance – has taken the corporate world by storm, effectively reorientating how companies and investors see the world and their role in it. It’s a profound shift, which, despite encountering some push back recently, has not lost any of its inexorable momentum. It is, however, evolving, and fast, and that is needed.

In an interview with Lia Cao, global co-head of corporate and e-commerce sales and solutions at J.P. Morgan Payments, she outlines some of the key marketplace trends emerging this year, how companies can capitalise effectively from business model transformation, what this means for working capital and liquidity management, and the game plan corporate treasurers need to think about and execute to maximise this opportunity.

David López Puig, head of human resources and member of the CaixaBank management committee since January 2022, discusses people and talent management trends, as well as some of the challenges CaixaBank, Spain’s leading bank in terms of assets, clients and market shares, faces in this area after its integration with Bankia.

In the first of a series of articles, Param Thind, APAC head of digital channels at Bank of America, looks at the crucial role digitisation plays in helping clients meet their sustainability objectives and how artificial intelligence is improving analytics and automating manual processes.

In January 2020 the European Central Bank (ECB) started to study the issuance of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), or the so-called digital euro.

Corporate treasury has undergone material transformation over the last few years, impacted by everything from cyclical economic trends, and regulatory initiatives, to rising geopolitical risks, digitisation, and the drive towards greater sustainability.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a key area of focus for Rawbank. In an interview, the bank highlights some of the CSR initiatives it is undertaking and explains how digital innovation in banking is supporting financial inclusion.

Technological advancement has revolutionised the payments industry over the past couple of decades, even as far as redefining the forms of money we use. Of all the innovations driving this transformation, blockchain technology is at the forefront, pushing the boundaries of payments as never before, says Lim Soon Chong, group head of global transaction services at DBS.

A new wave of restructuring is set to shape the healthcare industry after a decade of consolidation.

Bank of America research shows that 71% of healthcare firms expect M&A to increase in the coming year, driven by the need for scale and cost reduction

For many financial institutions it has become more crucial than ever to have a digital transformation strategy to drive growth and become future ready. If banks are to remain competitive they need to find ways to accelerate digital innovation. In an interview Abdullah Abdulkareem Al-Tuwaijri, CEO of consumer, private, and digital banking at Boubyan Bank explains how the bank's digital transformation strategy is shaping the future of the bank.

With its sights on seamless cross-border capabilities, Taiwan's largest lender is opening the door to red-hot investing opportunities in renewable energy in the region.

Under the leadership of CEO Bledar Shella, OTP Bank Albania has assertively grown and developed into one of the country’s leading banks, boasting stellar profits and the type of shareholder returns most western European peers would be envious of.

The transformation of energy, natural resource, oil and gas firms is ramping up. With a host of new entrants, many of these markets will face convergence and the development of new ecosystems.

This is the decade of the electric car, with forecasters expecting sales of electric vehicles to overtake sales of internal combustion engine vehicles in the coming years.

Euromoney and Bank of America have partnered to produce an original sponsored content series that highlights and analyses important topics for corporate treasurers.

The e-commerce growth opportunity in new markets comes with the challenges, cost and risk of foreign exchange.

Cross-border e-commerce is booming. By 2027, the value of cross-border payments could hit $250 trillion.

Ali Almakky, global head of payment solutions for the mobility sector at J.P. Morgan, looks at the key components of the automotive payments ecosystem fuelled by the evolution of the ‘connected car’.

Afghanistan International Bank provided vital lifelines to society during the challenges that gripped Afghanistan in 2021. In an interview, CEO Joseph Carasso speaks about the mission and strategies that enabled the bank to support Afghan society during one of the most difficult years for the country.

Kuwait’s Boubyan Bank is one of the leading Islamic banking institutions in the country and the Gulf Cooperation Council region. But its ambitions do not stop there, it aims to be a top five Islamic bank in the world, supported by expansion in its corporate banking business.

After a stellar year for growth in 2021, the Swiss banking group and online trading and execution provider, has ambitious plans to leverage its balance sheet and grow its FX business, according to Mohamed Hajibe, global head of institutional desk, and Maxime Mordelet, digital asset and eFX institutional liquidity manager.

Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ) has played a leading role in Qatar's economic and social development since it was established as the country's first private sector bank in 1974. In an interview, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani, chairman of CBQ, discusses the bank's achievements to date, how CBQ is driving its digital strategy and the resilience of Qatar's economy amid rising political, economic and social challenges.

Accelerating digitisation and technological advancement have caused tremendous change in the global payments industry over the last decade. Yet this next decade – one destined to be super-connected and increasingly spanning physical, digital and virtual worlds – and beyond, promises to deliver a revolution, say JPMorgan’s Jeremy Balkin, global head of innovation and corporate development, and Neha Wattas, head of strategic insights, innovation and corporate development

Quantum computers are supposed to be much faster and more powerful than current supercomputers, and as such, their application could have a profound impact on any industry. As banks begin to embrace quantum computing, potential use cases for the banking industry are emerging. CaixaBank is one bank that is demonstrating these through its quantum banking programme.

This webinar is sponsored by Datasite and will be hosted on the BrightTALK platform.

Ciaran Byrne, global head of clearing transformation at JPMorgan, looks at how all participants in the payments industry can make the most of the transition to ISO 20022.

The Indonesian bank provides corporations around the world with some innovative cash management, liquidity and payment solutions. In an interview, Adi Sulistyowati, vice president director of BNI, explains the importance of the transaction banking business to the group, what differentiates it, and highlights areas for investment this year.

Priyanka Rath, global head of liquidity and account solutions specialists at JPMorgan, and Lula Sheena, third-party money product executive at JPMorgan, explore some of the key considerations for corporates holding or processing third-party money flows.

Hong Kong property developer Sino Group not only embraces sustainability at the core of its business model, it is also at the forefront of driving the green and sustainable agenda in Asia’s real estate industry. In an exclusive interview, Mr Daryl Ng, deputy chairman, Sino Group, explains the importance of sustainability to the company and how the company is demonstrating this.

The metaverse encompasses a range of digitally enhanced environments, using virtual and augmented reality to create different types of experience for workers and consumers. So, what might a bank look like in the metaverse? And how would it enhance its clients’ experience of banking? Imagin, CaixaBank’s digital services and lifestyle platform, and its imaginLAND, offers a glimpse into a meta future.

Private banking in China is entering a new era of growth and development. Wang Yanrong, general manager of private banking at China Merchants Bank – Euromoney’s Best Overall Private Bank in China – describes the transition and the role private banks should play.

Chinese financial institutions are among those at the forefront of the global push to accelerate the transition to a low carbon future. Industrial Bank of China, a pioneer of green finance in the country, is one financial institution that is leading the charge in helping China reach its climate change goals. 

2021 was another strong year for Bank of China’s ambitious bond underwriting business, which maintained its leadership in some markets, and pioneered new transactions in others.

A bank’s technology solutions and commitment to sustainability, both in its operations and in the advice and products it provides to clients, are increasingly a competitive advantage in any banking business. For Taiwan’s CTBC Bank, its investment and commitment to these two areas is paying off and keeping it ahead of the competition, especially in private banking and wealth management.

Over the past few years, Ahli United Bank (AUB) has accelerated its digital transformation strategy – encompassing various initiatives from the back office to the front and across its operations and core banking businesses. It is a strategy designed to improve the operational efficiency of the bank and enhance the service it provides to its customers. In an interview, AUB CEO, Adel El-Labban, discusses the strategy, what differentiates it from other banks’, and the areas they are targeting for digital investment this year.

Banks have a pivotal role to play in accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy; they can direct financing towards activities that are aligned to the Paris Agreement, and away from those that are not. They are the key intermediaries of the investment required to reach net zero. And they can help their clients with strategies and products that support the transition toward a sustainable economy. Some are doing better than others.

With many obstacles facing women's financial inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, addressing them is a key priority for the Egyptian government. In an interview, Hussein Abaza, CEO and managing director of CIB discusses how Egypt's financial sector has taken steps to promote gender equality and women's economic empowerment in the country.

Sustainable finance is growing rapidly in the MENA region. With more countries entering the green bond market in recent years and global green bond investment set to double and reach $$1 trillion for the first time in a single year by the end of 2022, tackling the climate crisis is top of everyone’s agenda. CIB CEO and managing director Hussein Abaza discusses the opportunities for the MENA region to advance sustainability practices.

Commercial Bank of Qatar’s financial results across the year have been strong, capping five years of growth and development under its strategic plan. In an interview, Rehan Khan, CFO of CBQ, discusses some of the highlights from the bank’s performance, how its investment in digitisation is paying off, and what its main financial focus will be for 2022

High-net-worth individuals today demand a wide array of sustainable investment options and increasingly sophisticated digital services. Larger, integrated institutions may be best placed to benefit from these trends.