Winning the war for deposits: High growth at low cost in today's market
Publication Date: 22 June 2009


Publication Price: US$3500
Pre-publication Price before 22 June 2009 : US$3000

ABOUT THIS REPORT

Since early 2007, retail banks have started to refocus attention on deposit generation. The ongoing financial crisis which has highlighted the importance of paying attention to retail banking fundamentals has reinforced this trend. However, while going back to basics is the intuitive and correct response, it has also intensified the war for deposits.

Drawing from interviews with senior banking executives, this report identifies key operational and strategic drivers to help banks win the war on deposits in these turbulent times.

The key operational driver remains the retail bank’s ability to build a substantive deposits network to attract low cost or cheap deposits within short time periods. The report also discusses how, in addition to adjustment of interest rates, a successful deposit gathering framework should incorporate multiple critical success factors, including astute product management, effective pricing, leveraging distribution channels, refined customer focus and liability management.


  1. Heads of Consumer Banking
  2. Heads of Operations/Delivery Channels
  3. Heads of Strategic Planning
  4. Research Banking Analysts and Consultants
  5. Vendors, Banking Services Providers and Financial Services Consulting firms

Executive Summary
1. Overview
a. Current deposit generation trends and observations
b. Retail banking challenges in increasing deposit base to meet funding and revenue goals and objectives
c. Identifying the business case for sustainability by emphasising a high growth, low cost deposits generation strategy
2. Assessment of current deposit gathering models
a. An assessment of existing deposit portfolios—types, tools, channels and utilisation
b. Evaluation of costs to attract deposits
c . Critical considerations to enable a high deposit growth strategy
3. Strategic drivers of high growth, low cost deposit model
a. Existing customers
b. New customers
c. Existing channels
d. New channels
e. Online acquisition of deposits
f. Revenue/costs structure
g. Product management
h. Value of franchise
i. Key technology deployed
4. Best practices for deposits generation
a. Profiling best practice banks in developed countries with highly competitive markets
b. Profiling best practice banks in developed countries in emerging markets
c. Profiling best practice banks from emerging markets

5. Identifying a framework for the high growth, low cost deposits model

a. Key requirements
b. Critical elements
c. A suggested framework—Macro Level, Market Level, Street Level

6. Strategic and operational critical success factors

a. Customers
b. Channels
c. Strategic marketing and sales efforts
d. Skilled manpower/Talents
e. Management focus
f. Rewards and incentives
g Performance measurements
7. Our view of the future
a. Key requirements
b. Critical elements
c. A suggested framework — Macro Level, Market Level, Street Level