Financial

Financial

The financial services marketplace is more demanding—and less forgiving—than ever before. Customers are savvier, oversight is tighter and competition is intensifying.
The current financial crisis and the responses of financial institutions—capital infusions, portfolio actions, and initial-cost take-outs—have been well documented. But the crisis has done more than destroy value. It has redefined what financial institutions must do to compete and win.
Unfortunately, the environment for financial institutions will continue to become more challenging. We will likely see slower economic growth, depressed property prices, shrinking global-trade volumes, and higher unemployment levels. Customers’ de-risking and deleveraging will further reduce demand for previously high-margin products and services. Governments and regulators will continue to play increasingly activist roles in the sector.