creating value
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For a long time, internal audit was seen as a body focused on hindsight. Today, it is increasingly expected to play an active operational role. Business units and executive boards are increasingly viewing it as a ‘sparring partner’. How can the audit function resolve the tension between acting as a detached auditing body and maintaining a close involvement in the organisation?

The ADC/IPRE classifications under CRR III increase the capital costs of credit institutions due to their associated risk weightings and drive up costs (unnecessarily). We believe that precise classification, correct risk weighting and pricing tailored to this are crucial levers for intelligent overall bank management.

The success of the digital euro will not be determined solely by its technical architecture, but above all by how seamlessly it can be integrated into everyday payment situations. This raises a key strategic question for banks: which payment scenarios should be prioritised, and how can the digital euro be integrated in such a way that it usefully complements existing user behaviour?

Until now, internal auditing has looked in the rear-view mirror to determine whether traffic rules have been followed. But in a world where autonomous AI agents make decisions about loans, investments and market entries in milliseconds, the classic audit cycle is no longer appropriate. We are facing a ‘zero moment’: Audit must decide whether it will remain a footnote to digitalisation or become the central navigation system for management.

News, developments and strategic significance for banks, PSPs and acceptance points What are the important developments at the European Payments Initiative (EPI) and Wero from the perspective of merchants, service providers, businesses, authorities, associations and other acceptance points, as well as payment service providers and banks? A comprehensive overview.

As Europe’s digital central bank currency, the digital euro is intended to complement cash and offer advantages in terms of resilience, costs and data protection, among other things. With the adoption of the relevant regulation becoming increasingly likely, the pressure on banks to act is mounting. Five key decisions are on the agenda for Europe’s financial institutions.

Geopolitical risks are overarching risk factors that can affect all types of risk faced by banks. As the current heightened geopolitical risks have consequences for the banking industry, they have become a key supervisory issue for BaFin and the ECB. This article explains what they mean, how they affect banks systemically, and what expectations the supervisory authorities have in terms of governance, management and resilience.

For many banks, the register of grants, use of funds and measures is an annual obligation that requires considerable coordination. What are the typical problems in banking practice, and what added value do they offer banks and customers? This article answers these questions and provides practical takeaways.