The future of banking

NEWS 01/2026 The development of the digital euro has reached a critical juncture. After years of analysis, conceptual development, and technical preparation, the Eurosystem is entering a new phase with the ECB’s pilot program for the digital euro.

NEWS 01/2026 The better and more reliably banking processes are automated, the more critical and important the role of human beings becomes. Particularly when complex decisions are involved or things go wrong, swift and decisive action is required. This applies above all to managers on the front line. This requires specific skills.

For a long time, internal audit was seen as a body focused on hindsight. Today, it is increasingly expected to play an active operational role. Business units and executive boards are increasingly viewing it as a ‘sparring partner’. How can the audit function resolve the tension between acting as a detached auditing body and maintaining a close involvement in the organisation?

The success of the digital euro will not be determined solely by its technical architecture, but above all by how seamlessly it can be integrated into everyday payment situations. This raises a key strategic question for banks: which payment scenarios should be prioritised, and how can the digital euro be integrated in such a way that it usefully complements existing user behaviour?