Wednesday, 10^th December 2014 , Dubai, UAE

“Leveraging on technology to expand the customer base”

• International dialogue with senior bankers in transaction banking on global themes shaping cash management, trade finance, treasury and payments.
• Key developments in the industry and overcoming distrust in technology among corporates and FIs.
• Strategies to broadening and deepening the customer base to involve small businesses in the region.

The Asian Banker, the premier provider of insightful research to the financial services industry across Asia, Middle East and Africa, will be holding a high-level dialogue with the transaction banking community in Middle East to gauge their responses to developments in the industry.

Key players include Middle East banks’ heads of transaction banking or their senior management equivalent, international experts and senior transaction bankers within major banks in the other key regions.

There are global issues affecting the industry and banks are spending on infrastructure to better support and follow their clients. Middle Eastern banks are growing regionally and internationally requiring strong online platforms including treasury functions as well as the ability to offer clients end to end supply chain finance.

Competition is also becoming more intense and regional thus Middle Eastern banks need to differentiate with technology and solutions to compete with other FIs and non-bank players in a price driven economy. However, with the onset of technology usage, clients are skeptical of the reliability and security of the systems. Banks must educate the customer the benefits of the new platforms and the right to implement them depending on the clients business. 

This dialogue will examine the challenges Middle Eastern banks face, identify solutions and innovations to achieve operational efficiency and overcoming distrust among its clients while expanding transaction services to the SMEs.