Digital currencies have been hogging media headlines, with some countries jostling to attract start-ups in the cryptocurrency and underlying blockchain technology space. But will this bring cryptocurrencies into the mainstream?

Spurts in prices of cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings over the last two years, with start-ups raising millions in minutes, have raised excitement and regulatory attention amid fear of “bubble” and potential losses.

The Swiss banking sector is characterised by its stability. But presently, innovation is needed to enable institutions to deal with the changing regulatory landscape

The pace of regulatory reform has been relentless since the global financial crisis. From D-SIBs, TLAC, MiFID 2 to FRTB, the chain of regulatory acronyms that banks have to grapple with seem endless. Yet, are these measures working to make the banking system more secure or does their complexity cripple banks’ efficiency?

To alleviate customers from the hassles of banking, Security Bank launched a pro-customer product, shifted from being operations-centric to being sales-oriented, and streamlined its processes.

Acknowledging the disconnect between available credit and the underserved small and medium enterprise (SME) market, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) ventured into serving highly risky market segments through its Sustainable Enterprises for Economic Development (SEED) programme.

Hans Brown, head of client technology solutions - Asia Pacific, BNY Mellon, talks about the bank’s approach on innovation and how its newest Singapore lab helps solve real institutional problems

Banks can do more to provide global solutions to facilitate standardisation and automation of routine cash and treasury management processes, and enable collaboration across business units to increase corporates’ finance performance

A strong rise of robo-advisors is often predicted within the next few years. But, looking at the current situation, the offerings typically use limited possibilities to managing assets and can potentially only satisfy specific needs.

FINTQ addresses the gap in financial access for Filipinos without credit qualifications and those in the rural areas through its cloud-based lending platform Lendr, approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Lendr also fosters collaboration among banks, financial technology companies and other key stakeholders in the industry

Vivek Batra, MUFG’s new general manager and regional head of transaction banking sales for the Asia & Oceania region, discusses how the bank intends to capitalise on its position as a latecomer to the global transaction banking business.

Matthias Kröner, founder and chief executive officer of Fidor Bank, shares its plans for growth in Asia as the bank enters Singapore, after building a successful business in Europe

Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) (NETS) looks to “take out as much cash as possible” as the company partners with seven banks in the country in launching a unified digital payment platform for NETS Quick Response (QR) code payments.

As open banking becomes a reality for European consumers in early 2018, Chris Skinner, author and financial technology commentator, theFinanser.com, highlights the results of a number of reports and researches on open banking, especially noting how banks are ready to implement it.

A renewed push to provide end-to-end supply chain financing solutions is driving trade finance across Asia Pacific.