The global economy is recovering quickly from Covid-19, creating exciting opportunities in the corporate and investment banking market. Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity has reached record highs this year, driven not only by the improved economic conditions but by companies that have performed well during the pandemic, lower interest rates and rising share prices. Despite these positive developments, the usual challenges remain. Bankers still have to work hard to win M&A deals and to sell their capital raising, securities trading and other services. They have to focus closely on efficiency and productivity gains to maximise profits. And they have to avoid tripping up in a hazardous regulatory landscape.

In such a competitive market, it is imperative that banks build deeper relationships with their corporate, government and institutional customers. While corporate and investment banking is very much a relationship business, technology is playing a much larger role. Sophisticated customer relationship management platforms are helping banks win and retain valuable business by integrating multiple systems to provide a single view of the customer. With these platforms banks can collect, manage and, with the use of artificial intelligence, analyse huge amounts of customer data to help them understand and engage better with clients. They can streamline and automate multiple processes, such as client onboarding, contract approval, conflict checking and regulatory compliance. 

At the same time, banks must align their commercial goals with their customers’ commitment to “stakeholder capitalism” – the concept that long-term value creation can only be achieved by businesses taking into account the needs of society as a whole and the natural environment. 

This live webinar – hosted by the Financial Times in partnership with Salesforce – will bring together senior executives from North American and European corporate and investment banks to discuss how innovative technology can help them address their key hopes and concerns.

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