Post Crisis Banking Architecture - The (Virtual) Office

The post crisis banking architecture will change.sell though a virtual office, or whether a physical
The crisis has revealed some weaknesses of theoffice will increase the benefits. So far the use of
banking system which will have to be solved.internet has grown steadily and the medium has
Although the position of the virtual and real officegot matured. But the world around it has changed.
is not one of the highest priorities, it may be anThe Do It Yourself (DIY) approach that was
area where changes can be expected.popular in the pre-crisis may not come back under
Different Companies have their own vision on thisthe same demand. The risk appetite of many
theme. But also the situation in the varioushouseholds has been affected and this will
countries varies. In Britain there are fewer officesinfluence the way they will do business. It is not
but which support a larger scale, in Spain theresaid that the role of the financial advisor will
are many small offices.become more important, but confidence is more
And there is the internet, with the virtual office...an issue. And confidence and the internet do
On of the questions is whether this web-office willagree less with each other.
provide enough confidence for clients to continueBanks will have to think about this, which is only
to do business. Another question is whether theone of the possible changes in the near future.
products with higher margins are (still) possible toH.J.B.