And I learned with time that the former got more from the bank because I and it knew more about them and what they needed – whether a savings product or a loan. The bank got more from them in terms of revenue and reliability (helpful given that two small banks had recently failed). Indeed, as my province was in a deep recession at the time, loyalty and understanding mattered. It could mean the difference between a restructured loan that could be repaid and a foreclosure that would bring liquidation. In short, I was at the front line of a banking value chain – one that is now being impacted across its components by FinTech. Traditional universal banks combine the customer relationship, retail and commercial deposits and lending, and a wide range of activities in wholesale money and capital markets. 2  The FSB defines FinTech as technologically-enabled financial innovation that could result in new business models, applications, processes or products with an associated material effect on financial markets and institutions and the provision of financial services. 4  All speeches are available online at www.bankofengland.co.uk/speeches  4  Diagram A: Financial Services Value Chain  Payment services traditionally relied on cash, debit and credit cards, and wire transfers. Now FinTech companies are providing domestic and cross-border payment services on significant scale through “digital wallets” or pre-funded “eMoney”. Tech firms take a slice of payment revenues and, in many cases, the totality of customer transaction data.

Recent examples include the USD500 million Islamic Infrastructure Fund established in 2009 by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to meet the Shariah-compliant financing needs in the member countries. In addition, the advancements achieved in the sukuk market also provide evidence on the ability of Islamic finance in meeting the requirements of the differentiated demands of the modern economy. The recent issuance of the world’s first offshore RMB sukuk by Khazanah Nasional in Malaysia reflects the growing trend of multi currency sukuk issuances in Asia. Growing at an average annual rate of 40 percent, the global sukuk market has demonstrated its ability to effectively intermediate funds across borders, allocating funds efficiently in the international financial system and fast becoming an important financing and capital raising option. Islamic finance and financial stability An important aspect of the new financial landscape is the increased focus on financial stability. The more market oriented systems with market-based finance activities, the creation of new financial instruments and an increasing number of market participants with global reach, and more interconnected financial systems has expanded the potential for, and channels through which, financial shocks are transmitted to the economy and across borders. Indeed, recent experiences with crises have also shed new insights into the complex web of relationships that exist between sovereign, financial and economic risks, and underscored the critical importance of strengthening the pillars of financial stability that can serve to contain the impact of a crisis.