Swift & MEA Finance Transaction Banking Summit 2024 | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Overview

Transaction Banking - Transaction Banking, often referred to as GTB - Global Transaction Banking is more than a key revenue stream for banks and financial institutions, it is unquestionably a vital component of the trading abilities of businesses and as such, essential to the health of national economies.

With many economies across the Middle East travelling determinedly along the route to growth and development, most notably in the GCC, there is going to be an expanding need for Transaction Banking services and facilities. This in itself is a challenge, but it is also happening along with epochal change in the regional banking system as the application of technology and the use of AI becomes normal, in fact expected of our financial institutions.

If we add into this mix the fact that regional economies are driven in large part by SMEs who, with today’s communications options, will be trading more expansively and in diverse locations, plus transnational initiatives and standardisation all aimed at speeding and smoothing cross-border payments, banks have a lot to focus on in their Transaction Banking business.

How are banks in our region going to adapt, compete, recruit the talent and remain profitable in the face of the changes and heightening competition they will face?

The MEA Finance, Transaction Banking Summit, 2024, will gather national and regional leaders from Banks, Corporates, Technology, Fintech and Government to address these questions in a programme of lively and highly topical panel debates. The Summit discussions will focus upon the growth of Transaction Banking across the region, its essential importance to the economies of the region and how the inevitable application of technology and AI will shape the processes and practices animating it.

Who should attend?

Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Technology Officer
MD - Head of Treasury, Capital Markets & FI
Chief Operating Officer
Chairman
Chief Audit Executive
Chief Commercial Officer
Chief Economist and Head of Research
Chief of Shared Services Officer
Chief Risk Officer
Managing Director

Department & Section Heads

Partner - Financial Services
Advisor - Investment Management
Commercial Advisor
Executive Director
Head of Client Relations
Head of Payments, Remittances & FX
Head of Regulatory Advisory and Assurance
Head of Transaction Banking
Head Corporate Relations and Strategic Partnerships
Head Digital Strategy and Change
Head of Corporate Communications
Head Digital Strategy and Change
Head of E-Banking
Head of Market Risk
Head of AML & Sanctions
Head of Bancassurance
Head of CAD, Remedial & Collection
Head of Central Operations
Head of Change Management
Head of Client Experience
Head of Compliance
Head of CRM
Head of Disclosure and Issuance Department
Head of Enterprise Architecture
Head of Enterprise Banking Platforms
Head of External Communications
Head of Finance
Head of Financial Institutions
Head of Government Relations & PR
Head of Information Security
Head of Investment Solutions
Head of Issuance
Head of Prepaid Cards
Head of Regulatory Compliance
Head of Retail Banking
Head of Risk Specialist
Head of Strategic Planning
Head of Strategy - Technology
Head of Transaction Banking
Head Product Manager
Manager Audit & Compliance
Manager Operational Risk
Payments & Contract Manager
Portfolio Specialist - Insights & Strategy
Project Manager
Regional Compliance Manager
Regional Manager - Compliance & Risk Retention & Vigilance Manager
Senior CRM Project Lead
Senior CX Manager
Senior Manager - Digital Transformation
Senior Manager Treasury
Information Security, Senior Strategic Advisor
Senior Trade Officer, Strategy & PMO
Assistant Vice President - Global Customer Relations
Associate VP - Strategic Engagements
AVP Agile Delivery - Retail Banking
AVP Credit Risk and Portfolio Manager
FS Strategy Manager
SVP & Head of Compliance - Personal Banking Group
SVP & Regional Head - Corporate & Commercial Banking
Vice President, Compliance
VP Risk and Change Management
VP Wealth and Asset Management
VP - Strategic Initiatives & Bancassurance

Provisional Agenda

Wednesday, 12 June 2024

08:15 - 09:15 Arrivals & Registration

09:15 - 09:20 Welcome note

09:20 - 09:30 Keynote Address

09:30 - 10:15 Panel 1: Can Transaction Banking and Payments Help Build a Future of Strenght for the Region?

The Middle East can become a world leading commercial hub. Gifted with natural entrepreneurship, positive demographics and visionary objectives - such as Vision 2030, this potential must be supported by effective and secure transaction banking and payments. However, the lingering challenges of payment fragmentation, ongoing and looming geo-political crises, current interest rate regimes and the seismic changes technology will usher in, are just some of the hurdles to be overcome. How will Transaction Banking and Payments adapt to the challenges of today’s world and can they, in the face of existing and future challenges, meaningfully contribute to our region’s potential to become a world leading global business hub.

10:15 - 11:00 Panel 2: Taking Risk - Management and Mitigation of Risk in Transaction Banking

Transaction Banking, seen as relatively low risk, nevertheless is subject to forces that can have negative outcomes, such as operational risks that include currency volatility and interest rate activity; increasing geo-political flare-ups or natural disasters; fraud and cyber-crime, to name some. What can be done to take away or mitigate such dangers? Will cross-border standardisation initiatives reduce, and can technology help avert operational risk? Will AI reduce or even solve fraud risk? What opportunities are there for technology companies, in partnership with banks to prepare for or soften the consequences of events or the unexpected?

11:00 - 11:30 In Conversation With: Transaction Banking for a Better World

11:30 - 12:00 Coffee Break & Networking

12:00 - 12:45 Panel 3: Help or Hinder? Technology in Transaction Banking

Technology will command an increasingly prominent role in Transaction Banking, solving business problems by creating new efficiencies, speeding processes and offering solutions for smoothing out the rockier parts of the journey. However, there will remain parts of the process, such as cross-border bureaucracy and unforeseeable natural or geo-political circumstances that place obstacles and obstructions. Will technology always be a welcome tool to solve problems and salve the rough spots, or might it also add greater risk and expanded threats of cyber security and crime, especially in the payments realm?

12:45 - 13:45 LUNCH

13:45 - 14:30 Panel 4: Treasuring Treasurers - Business Models for Capturing a Greater Share of the Clients Wallet

As our region&s leading economies grow, so will the importance of reliable and cost-effective Transaction Banking services to the growing number of large and expanding companies and corporations. The corporate treasurers and treasury departments that will be dealing with expanded roles and responsibilities will be making greater demands on their transaction bankers. What business models will develop to make the best of this expanding ecosystem? Will adopting technology help differentiate your services or will offering a wider role to Sharia practices provide an edge in the region? Should banks make services more available to SMEs? How are you going to safeguard or increase your share of wallet?

14:30 - 15:15 Panel 5: 2027 and Beyond - Managing and Enhancing Domestic and Cross-Border Payments

It need not be mentioned how payments are fundamental to Transaction Banking, but it is worth discussing how payments are evolving in the region. Is standardisation and enhancement by multi-currency platforms supported by central banks having an effect? How are initiatives, such as ISO 20022, AFAQ or Buna benefitting banks and businesses involved in regional payments? Are they helping to iron out inefficiencies with costly outcomes that delay payments, hinder the ability to manage cash flow and can cost companies sales. Can or will the 2027 target developed by the Financial Stability Board at the G20 for more transparent, cheaper and faster and accessible payments be met?

15:15 - 15:45 Coffee Break & Networking

15:45 - 16:30 Panel 6: Intelligence Test - The Role of AI and The Cloud

With competition in the region growing, putting pressure on margins, plus the costs of risk management and compliance, can AI and the Cloud keep revenues healthy? While largely the case in retail banking, can their advantages apply to Transaction Banking? What decisions can or should a bank make between localisation or globalisation of data centres? As AI evolves, could it predict challenging situations and provide solutions to circumstances that previously would have been unavoidable or costly? How far can and will Al and the use of the cloud advance in the commission and provision of Transaction Banking?