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Our archives on Middle East conflict

Datafiles

European banking sector net profit expected to reach $408 billion in 2026

European banks across 34 markets saw net profit grow by a factor of 4.4 between FY2020 and FY2025, driven by post-pandemic recovery and the European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) most aggressive rate-hike cycle in a generation between 2022 and 2023. As these growth tailwinds ease and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and ECB revise Euro area real GDP growth to between 0.9 and 1.1% in 2026, banks that built structural capacity during the windfall years now demonstrate more stable earnings, with banks in Belgium, Eastern Europe and the Nordics emerging as structural leaders.

9 min read

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Brian Lo

Risk Management & Regulatory Strategy Expert

Brian Lo is a seasoned risk professional with nearly 30 years of experience across global financial institutions. Based in Hong Kong and Singapore, he has led teams in managing market and liquidity risk, counterparty risk, and asset and liability management. His expertise encompasses quantitative modelling, risk governance, stress testing, and regulatory compliance. Brian has also played a critical role in developing internal risk models, driving strategic initiatives, and advising on cutting-edge risk solutions, including AI and machine learning applications. Throughout his career, he has served on multiple risk committees, providing strategic insights to senior management and boards, and has been instrumental in implementing Basel reforms and risk management innovations. Brian’s approach integrates deep technical knowledge with practical leadership, making him a valuable contributor to banking risk management education and practice.

Urs Bolt

Chairman, The Banking Academy

Urs Bolt is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of expertise in wealth management, investment banking, and technology. He helps individuals achieve financial well-being and advises senior leaders in financial services and technology on refining business strategies, developing markets, and forging impactful partnerships. Recognised as a global thought leader in digital banking, WealthTech, and decentralised finance, Urs is an active speaker, author, and jury member for esteemed awards and panels. A passionate advocate for sustainable progress, he champions energy policies that balance economic growth and ecological preservation through scientific solutions.

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John Januszczak

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A native of Canada, John holds a degree in Astrophysics from the University of Toronto. His unique blend of scientific rigor and business acumen positions him at the forefront of fintech innovation in the region. John is a sought-after speaker at major industry events such as InsureTech Connect Asia and the Future Bank Working Group, where he shares insights on digital transformation, embedded finance, and the evolving fintech landscape.

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With over 22 years of experience in transaction banking, treasury, and finance across Asia and the USA, Ankur Kanwar drives strategic growth and innovation in his dual leadership roles. As Head of Transaction Banking for Singapore and ASEAN, he oversees business growth and operational excellence in one of the region's most dynamic markets. In his global role as Head of Structured Solutions Development for Cash Management, he leads a team of experts in creating advanced cash management solutions for clients worldwide.

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Christo Georgiev

CEO and Founder, LenderLink

Christo Georgiev is a seasoned financial technology executive with a strong track record in driving business growth and operational excellence across Southeast Asia. He is the founder and CEO of LenderLink, a company focused on advancing credit and lending innovation.

From 2019 to 2024, Christo served as Group COO and Country Manager (Philippines) at FinScore, a leading alternative credit scoring company. Under his leadership, the firm achieved 100% year-on-year revenue growth, forged strategic partnerships with over 30 top-tier financial institutions, and significantly broadened its market footprint and data capabilities. He led initiatives that processed millions of alternative data points monthly, advancing financial inclusion for the underbanked and unbanked.

Christo played a key role in raising $1.9 million from investors, including UBX Ventures (UnionBank of the Philippines’ CVC arm), and co-led FinScore’s successful exit to CTOS Digital of Malaysia in 2023. Following the acquisition, he remained with the company through its transition before stepping down in 2024 to launch LenderLink. Since 2012, Christo has held leadership roles across Operations and Business Development in Southeast Asia, building a reputation for strategic impact and execution in emerging fintech markets.

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APAC CISO, Deutsche Bank Asset Management

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David Gee

Seasoned CIO, CISO, and Award-Winning Technology Leader

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Stephen Tjokro

Business Development Director, Global Fraud Solutions, GBG

Stephen Tjokro is a Business Development Director, Global Fraud Solutions at GBG. He has a keen interest in fraud management, cybersecurity, digital risk protection and enterprise software. With deep expertise in fraud management, he helps businesses navigate fraud risk challenges in an evolving digital landscape. Beyond his professional expertise, Stephen prioritises fitness and stays informed on emerging technology advancements, ensuring he remains at the forefront of innovation.

Patrick Schueffel

Adjunct professor at Fribourg’s School of Management (HEG) and former COO in the banking sector.

Patrick Schueffel is an adjunct professor at the School of Management Fribourg (HEG) in Switzerland, where he specialises in fintech, entrepreneurship in banking and finance, and innovation. His academic work is complemented by extensive professional experience in the financial services industry, having held senior and C-level roles at institutions in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, including Chief Operating Officer positions at Sora Bank and Saxo Bank (Switzerland). Earlier in his career, he served as a senior manager at Credit Suisse’s headquarters in Zurich, where he led a global innovation team.

Dr Schueffel also represented HEG Fribourg internationally during a three-year assignment in Singapore. His research has been widely published in leading academic journals and practitioner outlets, making a significant contribution to the fields of financial innovation and international business. He holds a doctorate from the University of Reading/Henley Business School, and postgraduate degrees from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), the University of Mannheim, and Henley Business School.

Kelvin Teo

Co-founder and Group CEO of Funding Societies | Modalku

Kelvin Teo is the co-founder and Group CEO of Funding Societies | Modalku. He has been a key member of the Singapore FinTech Association’s Digital Finance Subcomm since 2018 and recently named by the Association as among the Top 12 Fintech Leaders in Singapore in 2020. As one of the Top 200 FinTech Influencers in Asia, Teo has spoken at major conferences such as LendIt Shanghai, Boao Hainan and Money20/20. He has also been featured on Bloomberg, BBC and Business Times. Prior to this, Teo served as a consulting professional at KKR, McKinsey and Accenture.

Mai Kaneko

International Business Lead, DeCurret DCP Inc.

Mai Kaneko leads international business and marketing at DeCurret DCP, a Japanese fintech firm operating a multi-bank network for tokenized deposit under the DCJPY framework. She oversees international expansion initiatives, bank-fintech partnerships and global go-to-market strategy. She holds a Master’s in International Relations from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s in Economics from University of Tokyo.

Hidehiko Kinoshita

Project Promotion Group Senior Manager, DeCurret DCP Inc.

Kinoshita has been involved in product development projects across a wide range of industries in Japan, including e-commerce, retail, banking, insurance, and manufacturing. He joined DeCurret DCP in 2024, where he has been engaged in the development of digital currency infrastructure. In addition to building the underlying infrastructure, he supports digital transformation (DX) initiatives associated with the adoption of digital currency solutions across various industries, and promotes projects aimed at enabling cross-border transactions.

Abhinav Goel

Head of Client Solutions and Sales, Partior

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Sakae Hamasaki

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Sakae Hamasaki joined Sanwa Bank (currently MUFG Bank) in April 1993 and worked in corporate banking across five domestic locations. From 2006 onward, he gained extensive experience in the planning, development, and sales of payment-related services for corporate clients in Japan and overseas. He joined DeCurret DCP in 2022, where he has been leading initiatives to support banks in evaluating the adoption of tokenized deposits, as well as collaborating with overseas partners to build cross-border networks utilizing tokenized deposits.

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Anouska Ladds

EVP Commercial & New Payment Flows, APAC, Mastercard

Anouska Ladds is Executive Vice President of Commercial & New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific at Mastercard, based in Singapore. With over 17 years at Mastercard, she has held senior roles across sales, strategy, operations, market development, consultancy, and product development, spanning Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Previously at Barclaycard, she specialised in strategy, customer experience, communications, and SME/acquiring businesses.

Johnson Poh

Assistant Chief Executive, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

Johnson is a seasoned executive and data and AI leader with over 15 years of experience across the public and private sectors. He is currently Assistant Chief Executive at IMDA, where he helps shape Singapore’s digital future and advance the digital economy. He has held senior data and AI roles in regional banking and global consulting, and began his career in defence and critical infrastructure.

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Our archives on Middle East conflict

European banking sector net profit expected to reach $408 billion in 2026