This book explores the future of the financial services industry, giving readers an idea of the kinds of institutions and services that will survive in the early twenty-first century. An informative and provocative exploration of the future of the financial services industry. Focuses on likely changes in the near future, such as greater use of the Internet for banking transactions and the increasing globalization of financial services. Points to the probable disappearance of the insurance sector as a separate industry. Describes changing conditions in key financial centres, especially the US, the UK, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. Contents Preface Part I: The Environment 1. Introduction 2. The Globalization of Financial Services 3. The Virtualization of Financial Services 4. Government Regulation: The Second Key Factor Underlying Industry Structure Part II: Competitive Strategies 5. The Financial Landscape: Organizations and Universal Banking (The Status Quo) 6. Competitive Strategies of International Financial Institutions 7. Competitiveness of Commercial Banks from Key Countries 8. Responding to the Challenge of the New Economy Part III: Direction of the Sector 9. Why insurance won#t survive 10. Investment banking at the crossroads 11. Financial instruments and financial structures 12. Generation of long-term investment to support long-term bond & stock markets 13. Centers of international financial activity 14. Surviving the 21st Century Bibliography Index