Digital and incumbent banks face growing threats from big tech and payment platforms that are evolving into full-scale financial services players. Latest forecast derived from BIS data, predicts that alternative financing will surpass $1 trillion by 2023.

Licensed digital banks and P2P/marketplace platforms focused on alternative business lending to SMEs are overcoming operating and market challenges to scale and sustain their businesses. Leading players are charging ahead with more comprehensive service solutions and expanding regionally.

Stringent cost control and digitalisaltion led to steady improvement in operational efficiency of Qatar Islamic Bank. The top 10 most efficient Islamic banks among the world’s 50 largest Islamic banks comprise four from Qatar, three from Malaysia and one each from Egypt, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

Ukraine’s ambassador Kateryna Zelenko in a conversation with The Asian Banker’s Emmanuel Daniel and Mathew Welch warned that a protracted Russia-Ukraine war will have serious ramifications for the entire world against Russia’s threat to restrict access to and escalate prices of agricultural and energy exports. She urged the global financial services community to contribute to stopping the war.

While governments are donating billions of dollars in cash or equipment to support Ukraine, private capital from large and small donors alike has a critical role in supporting relief efforts now and rebuilding Ukraine in the future.

Africa-focused digital banks seeking to plug the financial services gap of the unbanked face a market of about 300 million potential customers. Having attracted significant investments, they are poised to challenge traditional banks.

Vincent Magnenat, Limited Partner and CEO for Asia at Lombard Odier shared how as a seven-generation family business, the 225-year old institution continues to drive innovation in the wealth management industry with tailored offerings for global clients and partnerships with local incumbents to deepen its presence in the region.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has cast a shadow on the climate change agenda. Europe has been shaken by the skyrocketing oil prices and is left scrambling for alternatives.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has cast a shadow on the climate change agenda. Europe has been shaken by the skyrocketing oil prices and is left scrambling for alternatives.

Africa’s largest economy joins the growing list of countries turning to digital money to cut transaction costs and get more people to participate in the formal financial system. But challenges to the rollout remain, giving the government a huge responsibility of preparing the people to embrance the technology and trust its use.

A conversation with Mark Dreyer, author of Sporting Superpower, for an insider’s view of China’s quest to be a leading sporting nation, the evolution of its society at the grassroots and what it takes to lead the nation into the next millennium.

Bangladesh has achieved significant progress towards financial inclusion with a strong focus on 'Digital Bangladesh', to deliver service using technology. The recent developments in the country’s financial sector, the diversified tradition of credit and microfinance, and widespread acceptance of digital finance and mobile financial services (MFS) are recognised worldwide.

泓湖百世全球家族办公室和亚洲银行家近期发布的白皮书《家族财富管理与家族办公室行业洞察白皮书——全球视野，中国情怀》中显示，继承计划对于财富的代际转移至关重要。然而，大多数家庭并没有为财富的代际转移做好准备或计划，导致需要传承的财富或家族价值部分甚至全部丧失。

Vincent Magnenat, Limited Partner and CEO for Asia at Lombard Odier shared how as a seven-generation family business, the 225-year old institution continues to drive innovation in the wealth management industry with tailored offerings for global clients and partnerships with local incumbents to deepen its presence in the region.

Africa represents a large growth opportunity for buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) service providers. With increased digitisation and smartphone penetration across the region, customers are searching for new innovative solutions to make their purchases conveniently with alternative financing options.