Cedar on Banking Technology

Staying Operational: A BankTech Playbook for Uncertain Times

In the face of rising geopolitical risks, banking technology is experiencing unprecedented pressure. In this CedarView Podcast episode, we unlock how banks must adjust their technology strategies to maintain operations and mitigate new risks, including cyber threats & supply chain disruptions. We cover practical strategies for resilience, such as strengthening business continuity plans and securing payment infrastructure. The conversation also explores the growing importance of stress-testing systems for simultaneous disruptions and adapting fraud detection to new challenges. Banks that take action now to safeguard their operations will be in the best position to thrive in uncertain times. Tune in for insights on turning technology challenges into long-term strengths during times of disruption.

Payment hubs – transcending many borders

Payment hubs represent a major shift in banking, transforming payments from a utility-driven cost center into an innovation-led profit engine. They enable a coordinated, standardized operating model across retail, corporate, treasury and cross-border payments, driven by globalization, rapid technology advances and rising regulatory demands. By consolidating fragmented systems into an integrated framework spanning front, mid and back offices, payment hubs improve straight-through processing, reduce errors and costs, strengthen risk, compliance and fraud controls, and enhance customer visibility. Modern payment hubs support four key principles: Integration across channels and systems, Immediacy through real-time payments and liquidity views, Innovation in services and pricing, and seamless Interface between customer channels, processing platforms and governance layers. Built on flexible, service-oriented architectures, they allow banks to innovate without disruptive “big-bang” replacements. As payments revenues grow rapidly—especially in emerging markets—payment hubs are becoming essential for differentiation, faster time-to-market and sustainable profitability.

Time to log into cyber insurance

As personal and corporate lives increasingly move online, cyber risk has overtaken physical risk as a major threat. Cyber attacks can damage identities, operations and reputations at unprecedented speed and scale. While security patches address known vulnerabilities, attackers often stay ahead, making it impossible to eliminate all risks. As a result, cyber security insurance is emerging as a critical financial safeguard. Organizations face threats such as phishing, malware, DDoS, social engineering and data breaches, which can lead to productivity losses, remediation costs, regulatory fines, lawsuits, revenue loss and long-term reputational damage. High-profile banking incidents highlight the scale of exposure, driving rapid growth in cyber insurance, with the global market expected to exceed $20 billion by 2025. Selecting cyber insurance requires board-level collaboration among the CIO, CRO and CFO, careful assessment of coverage, and alignment with the organization's risk profile. Insurers also evaluate IT maturity, governance, controls and employee awareness before underwriting coverage.

Seven key trends in corporate payments technology

Corporate payments are rapidly evolving as modern technology platforms enable near–real-time processing, greater transparency, and stronger compliance. As payment services become a major revenue and retention driver, banks must invest heavily in corporate payment capabilities to stay relevant and counter fintech competition. While retail payments have advanced faster, corporate payments are catching up through improved integration, security and efficiency. Seven key trends are reshaping the space: adoption of payment hubs to replace siloed legacy systems; deep ERP integration to automate reconciliation and improve efficiency; supply chain financing to optimize working capital in global value chains; demand for local payment methods to support cross-border ecommerce; blockchain to enhance speed, transparency and risk management; open banking APIs enabling third-party innovation; and rising regulatory compliance needs around KYC and AML, increasingly addressed through data-driven solutions. As corporate payment needs become more complex, banks that deliver seamless, integrated and compliant payment experiences will gain a strong competitive edge, prompting significant industry-wide investment and new market entrants.

Success transfer the right time for cards

The concept of “Success Transfer,” pioneered by Citi, goes beyond knowledge sharing to include full implementation of proven business models across geographies. Originating in Citi’s global credit card operations, it involves replicating successful products, platforms, brands, personnel or operating models from mature markets to growth markets, adapting them to local needs rather than reinventing them. Enabled by the internet and global connectivity, Success Transfer has become an aggressive growth strategy. In credit cards, this opportunity is especially large. Consolidation in the US card industry has created a deep pool of experienced talent, while global acceptance of credit and cards is accelerating rapidly, often outpacing US growth. By transferring US best practices—acquisition models, credit scoring and operations—financial institutions can quickly scale card businesses worldwide. Cultural shifts, outsourcing and rising consumer spending have further fueled this global adoption of credit.