LARRY MINDEL, head of Rule Financial’s Payments practice, attended SIBOS 2008 in Vienna this autumn, accompanying the launch of the latest Rule Financial White Paper “High Wire Walkers Required” . Larry is a specialist in business transformation – merging banks, transforming their banking operations, devising and implementing new sourcing strategies and developing the organisations and their people. Rule’s Payments practice will focus on helping banks put the most appropriate operating models in place.

     “Banks are facing major issues - and opportunities - as Payments forces its way up the corporate agenda.” says Larry. “The impact of SEPA (the Single Euro Payments Area), even outside the Eurozone, together with recent innovations in business and commercial models, and a new breed of cross-product Payments platform, are all changing the way banks operate. Key decisions need to be made now on market positioning, operating models, transformation routes, sourcing strategy and technology platforms. We’re already seeing the impact in the market: firms which don’t act will lose out.”

     Larry believes Rule is ideally placed to help banks make and implement these important decisions. “Along with our class-leading change management capability, we have a great reputation for objectivity and giving the best advice. Focusing on Payments is a natural addition to our service set, building on success we’ve already achieved in the areas of SEPA, Faster Payments and Wholesale Banking settlements. It makes us an ideal partner for maximising the opportunity, building platforms for the future and reducing the risks in fundamental change.  After all, payments are the operational heartbeat of any bank.”