This article focuses on five traits that financial services are going to have to develop in order for them to remain competitive in the market. These traits are hungry for change, innovation beyond customer imagination, globally integrated, disruptive by nature, and genuine, not just generous.

Financial service companies need to build an environment that encourages constant change and development of their offerings. They will need to build upon Internet and mobile services in order to stay competitive in a world where mobility and ease are everything. This also applies to innovation. The technology that the companies are going to develop are what is going to keep them in the market. If they can not come up with some unique idea that separates them from their competitors, they are not going to get customers to switch over to their business.

Being able to spread their market overseas is another key aspect for financial service companies to remain competitive especially with the increasing ease of travel. The world is becoming more globally integrated and people are going to need to be able to access services when they are traveling. Without a globally integrated environment, financial service companies will not be able to provide for their customers, and they will lose them.

In terms of being genuine, services will have to provide good customer service that they can rely upon any time of day, at any location. This means offering customer service via the Internet, telephone and through mobile devices.

The main emphasis for next generation financial services is going to be mobile offerings, ease of use, and global integration. The constant desire of customers being able to do anything, everywhere is going to have to be provided for by financial services as well.

"The Enterprise of the Future in Financial Services." The Bankwatch 23 Oct 2008 5 Nov 2008 .