Over the past 4 weeks we have visited 4 countries across Europe, the latest being Italy where we were enchanted, frustrated and sometimes bemused by what we found. The world’s most advanced 'country' 2,000 years ago, Medieval Italy is also recognised as the source of modern day banking, subsequently exported by its rapacious merchants and clergy. Monte dei Paschi di Siena, founded in 1472, is the oldest bank in existence, but only just – in the EBA’s recent Asset Quality Revi

Last week we were privileged to take a deep dive into Industry 4.0 a.k.a. the Internet of Things and were struck by the parallels it has with Banking. Industry 4.0 For those not familiar with the concept, Industry 4.0 is the digitisation of industrial value chains and networks and is regarded as the next 'industrial' revolution. Common standards drive inter-connectability between all participants and produced parts, with each resource becoming an information carrier able to c