Banker S.A. June 2013 | Page 60

INDUSTRY SURVEY SA bankers: “Innovation is critical” PwC’s South African Banking Survey 2013 forecasts new partnerships, fewer branches and big IT investment. C hange is the only constant in banking, globally and in South Africa. Although banks in South Africa are in healthy shape with the majority of banks generating strong return on equity (ROE) compared to their global counterparts, CEOs have to navigate through various challenges and opportunities to maintain their ROEs above what is now seen as the “new normal”, according to a survey issued by PwC today. Tom Winterboer, Financial Services Leader for PwC Southern Africa and Africa, says: ‘PwC’s South African Banking Survey 2013 shows that executives acknowledge that the industry is evolving fast, with a number of trends and developments currently shaping the global landscape for financial services and in particular the banking industry. ‘These trends could either contribute to or detract from banks’ ability to achieve sustainable revenue growth.’ The purpose of the survey is to highlight the challenges and opportunities faced by CEOs as they position their banks to succeed in the future. The survey also explores industry trends to provide perspectives on how banking in South Africa may evolve over the next three years. The challenges and opportunities faced by banks