The Excellence in Retail Finance programme, now in its 23rd year, unveils a dynamic shift in the industry, driven by digital transformation. Financial institutions are harnessing AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation to revolutionise operations and offer personalised services. Advanced analytics provide deeper insights into customer behaviour, paving the way for targeted marketing and innovative product development. Digital-only banks, using mobile and cloud platforms, are expanding their offerings through strategic collaborations with fintech and e-commerce firms. Cybersecurity and data protection remain critical, with substantial investments ensuring robust safeguards. Additionally, cloud computing and sustainability efforts are modernising banking infrastructure to meet regulatory demands.

Our feature in this issue explores how the centralised and decentralised finance worlds are joining hands to take a quantum leap into an altogether different paradigm of wealth.