ABOUT THIS REPORT

While the impact of the banking crisis is most severely felt in North America and Europe, banks in Asia have not been completely spared the fall-out given today s interconnected environment. Wider macro-economic shifts, tightening credit conditions and regulatory changes are necessitating Asian banks to reconfigure their strategies, business models and structures for survival and growth.

These reconfigurations are also reflected in new patterns of technology prioritisation, utilisation and procurement observed in Asian banks. This report will be delivered in three editions that can be purchased separately:
1. Greater China (China, Taiwan and Hong Kong)
2. Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines)
3. South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh)

The report provides an assessment of the IT-related investment priorities of banks in each of the countries and regions covered. Specifically, the report will explore banks IT spending behaviour as mapped agaings the competitive challenges that the industry is expected to have in 2009 to 2010. In particular, what seems to be coming through at the moment is the need to shore up a strong capital base to protect against any eventualities in the current uncertain environment. Some competitive drivers, such as in the wealth management business in specific countries, have to be completely re-written because of recent turn of events.

The report as such is aligned along both business lines as well as along the lines of the architectural needs of banks, namely core banking, CRM solutions, risk management solutions, distributions systems and platforms, well as channel infrastructure including ATMs.

The findings contained in this report are aimed at providing a platform for banks to benchmark their technology imperatives and spending patterns with industry peers. They are also directed at technology companies who will find the report useful for putting hard numbers to their business planning under current difficult circumstances. More importantly, it is designed to help players understanding shifts in bank purchasing behaviour to identify key engagement points with the banking community.

The Asian Banker adds an important dimension in that its researchers have an intuitive understanding of the nuances in the Asian marketplace, especially in these difficult times, which will be reflected in the report.