Slippery slope
Indian banks have been having it bad. And things do not look like getting any better. No, we are not talking about non-performing assets (NPAs) or thinning spreads.

Editorial
US retail bank, Norwest Bank, which has the highest cross-selling rates (roughly four products per customer compared to two for other banks), discovered a startling fact about the behaviour of its customers.

Travel light
Technology and innovation have spelt doom for yet another product, the traveller's ' cheque (TC). The advent of global credit cards has almost eliminated its need. And the final nail in its coffin has been the introduction of Citibank's global ATM card.

Go tech, reap the rewards
Bangalore recently saw a new wave sweep through its banking segment. Citibank, one of the largest banks in the world, has launched a pilot project in the city with a view to expanding its reach.

Share finance
The recovery in the primary market has not benefited share brokers and investors as much as some financial intermediaries. It has opened up opportunities for recovery of primary issue financing, a business which was almost considered dead.

Big is good, small is better
Guess which financial intermediary booked the largest number of Indicas? If you are thinking it was one of the foreign banks or non-bank finance companies, you are way off the mark. It was Saraswat Co-operative Bank.

No cheques please!
The debit card recently launched by Citibank helps in more ways than one. It frees the customer from carrying cash, while giving him access to his deposits at most retail outlets.

Retail push, easier said than done
Indian public sector banks (PSBs) and financial institutions (FIs) are suddenly looking nimble. For a very simple reason though. The retail banking market has caught their eye. Some blood has already been tasted. And there's no stopping them now.

West meets the East
The wholesale side of the lending and financial services industry (mergers and acquisitions advice, trading and underwriting of bonds, derivatives and equities and foreign exchange) has been among the most global industries.

Strategise for success
Few players have been fleet-footed in terms of product innovations, strategy development and implementation. But one player which meets all these criteria is Citibank.

Spotlight
When one talks about Citibank’s leadership, we are the leaders not just on account of being the first entrants in product categories, but also because of our constant pursuit to innovate.

Value for money
American Express Bank (Amex) made headlines when it took head-on well entrrenched players in the personal finance market, in the process redefining the business.