Deutsche Bank is teaming up with the Designboom online journal for a global competition that focuses on the future of banking. As part of the contest, the bank is seeking smart and fresh solutions that will help enhance customer experience in such fields as branch interactions, digital day-to-day and life planning bank transactions. Ideas that revolve around inspiring consumers and nurturing a positive outlook are also accepted.

This month sees the two biggest Russian financial companies — VTB Group and BinBank — to launch their new retail banking brands on the local market. While VTB’s Leto Bank is seen as a future leader of the mass retail lending with a developed chain of offices, Elixir has recently started operating in Moscow and St Petersburg as a virtual financial branch issuing credit cards for individuals online.