The trends and innovations for payment systems were revealed today, during the second edition of The Future in Banking Technology Forum, as distinguished panelists have gathered to talk about future and innovative payments, challenges and opportunities in implementing SEPA, as well as the implications it has on the banking system customers, about the rapid evolution predicted in mobile and electronic payments, about the new solutions that payment infrastructure providers put on the table, about anti-fraud management, about Remittances and other equally interesting subjects on the matter.
Speaking of panelists, our own Corina was among them to make the audience aware on Allevo’s projects regarding Remittances. Also speaking of panelists, as I was searching on the net for an article that announces the event in English in order to link it here, I came across the name of a panelist I did not recognize. At first, at least 🙂 I am talking about “Andrew Lawrence, General Manager, General Directorate for Treasury and Public Debt, Ministry of Finance”.
I have to admit it took me a few seconds to realize it was our good old colleague Laurentiu Andrei from the Ministry of Finance. I wonder if this qualifies for him receiving a lamb for Easter, as the holidays are approaching. Not wanting to be really mean, I am gonna let it slide with no more noise, just a little smile on my face from an innocent mistake. Still… I even tweeted the link.
Coming back to the conference itself, I have to admit that seeing the agenda and the fact that it announced a round table, made me expect for a more interactive session, a dialogue of some sort. It is true, that Ms. Rodica Tuchila, Director, Romanian Banking Association and the moderator of this forum, tried in several occasions to embark the audience on a debate by asking relevant questions, but I guess people were more comfortable thinking about innovation rather than speaking about it.
I don’t want to bore you with figures, but being related to my previous post YES: SEPA Does Matter, I will just tell you that in Romania 21 credit institutions and 5 foreign banks branches have already adhered to SEPA Credit Transfer, accounting for 65% of the number of credit institutions and 90% of the total Credit Transfer payments. Also, 2 credit institutions have embraced SEPA Direct Debit.
In terms of ideas I left the conference with, I personally liked Florin Danescu’s – Executive President, Romanian Banking Association – statement that in today’s difficult context, the innovation makes the difference. And there were some innovative solutions for the banking industry presented today: e-SEPA, SEPA e-Payments, m-Payments (Mobile) and e-Invoicing, CEC Bank’s Internet Banking, BRD’s Contactless cards.
The panel also benefited from the presence of Catherine Banneux, Senior Market Manager, Banking Market, SWIFT who presented the initiative they have in person-to-person payments with SWIFTRemit. Her presentation wet well together with Corina talking about Allevo’s end-to-end remittance processing solution, a solution that even if can’t be considered as the greatest innovation, is definitely a solution for the future, with various possibilities to build on.
This being said, I wish you all to be blessed with thoughts of innovation. Be creative!
By: Ioana Moldovan