“Are you reading the future in coffee grounds here, or did you just see the Grim?” That’s Sophia, waiting for Leonard to free the coffee machine so that she can have her morning cup. Her colleague has been contemplating the content of his corporate mug for a good thirty seconds …
Much like a top contending team in the European Championship, Luxembourg’s corporate banking sector excels by consistently strategising and optimising its operations. But to understand its prominence, we need to look back at its history. Its rise began in the late 1960s when German banks entered the pan-European markets, capitalising …
“Imagine if we, as a bank, could precisely know what each customer needs before they even articulate it. We could offer them financial products that they actually want, not just what we think they might need,” says Emily, a successful bank manager who is always eager to innovate. She wants …
Portugal was still grappling with the harrowing effects of the financial crisis when, in July 2014, a(nother) scandal hit the country’s headlines and beyond. Banco Espírito Santo (BES)—one of Portugal’s largest private banks back then—was at the epicentre. The first alarm bell went off when the bank, owned by the …
Banks have a unique opportunity to become powerful agents of positive change via Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and helping to finance the green transition. But how is this going to come about when saving the planet is no simple task (and when trying to remain prosperous while doing …
Leonard couldn’t lull himself into dreamland. His bedside clock kept reminding him of the unforgiving passage of time—it was now 5am—and he was getting more and more jittery. You see, later that day, his team would receive training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how to use it in their department. …
Can you guess what was the amount of Value-Added Tax (VAT) due but uncollected in 2021 by the European Union (EU) Member States’ tax authorities? The ‘VAT compliance gap’ is the difference between the VAT total tax liability (VTTL) and what is actually collected by the Member States’ tax authorities. …
In late 2009 and for the next few years, the atmosphere was heavy in number 175, rue de la Loi, in Brussels. Heads of State and Ministers of Finance were gathering quite frequently in this building—that is, the Council of the European Union—and staying there until late in the night …
The European payments landscape is experiencing a watershed moment, marked by increased demand for instant payments and a shift toward electronic payments and mobile wallets. With a focus on cross-border payments, but not only, we will look at how the payment revolution is challenging the role of banks as well …
Let’s be honest, “Are you ‘Fit and Proper’?” isn’t usually the first question one asks when starting a conversation. There are plenty of other options —and probably more enticing ones— for small talk. Of course, this also depends a little bit on where you live. Here in Luxembourg, chatting about …
