THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Most large banks considering major investments in open banking

Most large banks considering major investments in open banking

RECENTLY completed surveys and research by Accenture revealed that all but one of 100 payments executives at large banks globally (US$5 billion in revenue for banks in North America, the UK, Spain, Italy, France and Germany; US$3 billion in revenue for banks in Asia Pacific, and other European markets) confirmed their bank plans to make major investments in open banking initiatives by 2020.

Open banking is an emerging service model that allows customers to share access to their financial data with non-bank third parties, which can then use that data to provide the customer with a better banking experience. Banks can also use the open banking platform to offer plug-and-play financial products to third parties, such as retailers or fintech companies, ultimately expanding their reach to new customers. Our research found that nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of banks in North America believe that implementing open b anking is critical to competing with new entrants – such as fintechs and tech giants – and will help banks remain relevant, compared to half (51 percent) of executives surveyed in Europe and two-fifths (40 per cent) in Asia Pacific. In fact, half (52 per cent) of all the bank executives surveyed believe that they will be forced to implement open banking in order to compete with traditional competitors (ie other large banks) that have invested in digital transformation.
Unlike banks in Europe where it is mandated by regulation, those in North America and Asia Pacific have the luxury of deciding if, how and when they will implement open banking, and we expect many will do so as a way to more easily offer integrated financial services to customers. As European banks ready their networks for compliance, banks across the globe are identifying opportunities to drive new revenue streams by offering services to third parties, such as consumer credit checks and identity management, enabled by Open Banking.
In Europe, open banking is being driven by the revised payments service directive (PSD2), a regulation taking effect January 2018 that will enable consumers to share their financial data securely with banks and third parties, making it possible for them to more easily transfer funds, compare products and manage their accounts without their bank’s involvement. While open banking is a regulatory requirement in Europe, market competition is driving North American banks to a high-level of interest in implementing open banking. 
According to the study, two-thirds (66 per cent) of bank executives believe that open banking will help create new revenue streams for their organisation, and 90 per cent expect it to drive incremental revenue growth of up to 10 per cent.
Today most bank executives believe that Open Banking provides more an opportunity than a threat and makes it easier for consumers to access their products. 
However, many also believe that open banking will introduce more interfaces, leading to potential security and fraud vulnerabilities. Some of our additional findinds include the following:
More than two-thirds (71 per cent) of respondents at European banks view open banking as more an opportunity than a threat, versus 63 per cent in Asia Pacific and 60 per cent in North America.
The majority (71 per cent) believe Open Banking will make it easier for customers to access more targeted banking products and offers.
According to the results of the survey, some banks can already distribute third-party banking products to consumers with whom they do not have a primary relationship: 37 percent in North America, 29 per cent in Europe and 23 percent in Asia Pacific. 
Half (50 per cent) of all respondents, and nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of those in Europe, believe that implementing open banking will increase the level of risk in the banking. 
Open banking provides myriad opportunities for banks to generate new revenues and offer new products; however, it also puts banks at risk of becoming back-end, transactional players, with their products and brands buried deep in another transaction. Banks have an opportunity to use their trusted position with consumers to own the customer relationship, and provide the seamless digital experience customers want and that open banking enables. 

Contributed by Nontawat Poomchusri, Country Managing Director and Financial Services Lead, Accenture in Thailand.
 

nationthailand