Neobank challenge on the horizon
Leading European digital banks now have nearly 100m customers. This is according to research by Accenture presented at a ABBL online roundtable on 10 June entitled “Neobanks: An opportunity behind each threat”. Even if one-in-six of the continent’s population have an account, the concept of pure online banking has yet to go mainstream. But this could be about to change.
GDPR and Brexit: another deadline
Personal data transfers in general, and in the financial sector in particular, are one of the many gaps in the Brexit trade and cooperation agreement (TCA). There is a transition period, but once it lapses later this year financial institutions may no longer be allowed to transfer client data between the UK and the EU.
Transfers: Arendt Services, KPMG, EY partners, ABBL
Arendt Services
Benjamin Collette has been appointed new CEO of the business, accountancy and tax services department of Luxembourg-based law firm Arendt & Medernach. He specialises in strategy, regulatory and corporate finance.
Luxembourg banks find new growth niche
Despite a Brexit-inspired influx of banks to Luxembourg, the number of banks active in the country is dwindling. At the same time however, many of the remaining banks keep growing their revenue thanks to an increasing focus on ultra-high net worth individuals (UNHWI’s). But this success comes with a price.
Luxembourg bankers support mutualisation of finance functions
Luxembourg banks want to work together to create common standards on certain compliance-related functions, a survey by the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association ABBL among its member showed. 93% of respondents said they see such cooperation as ‘valuable for the financial services community’.