Regional banks better at meeting emerging markets' retail demand

Singapore

REGIONAL banks appear to be better placed to capture greater trade flows or meet retail banking demand in emerging markets, as international banks retreat from some countries, EY said in a report last week.

"The emerging markets were a focus of pre-crisis expansion for global banks, but many overreached and have had to exit some of their operations to refocus on their home markets," the report said. "Global institutions will pursue only a few limited business lines, such as wealth management and high-value investment banking, in key markets."