PARIS & NEW YORK & HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Efma, an association whose membership includes nearly one-third of the world’s large retail banks, and Accenture (NYSE:ACN) have opened the application period for the second year of their global award program for retail banks. The program is designed to identify and distinguish banks for the most innovative projects and ideas in bank distribution and marketing. Applicants can enter at http://www.efma.com/Innovations/submitting-your-innovation-2/ from now until September 10, 2014.
“Despite its challenges, the retail banking industry has become a land of opportunity, thanks to new technologies,” said Piercarlo Gera, global managing director of Accenture Distribution and Marketing Services. “The objective of this annual award program is to recognize banks that are innovating successfully in order to turn these opportunities into new customers, new revenue streams and more profitable growth.”
“Innovation is happening everywhere in the world and it would be an error to only look at more mature countries,” said Patrick Desmarès, Secretary General of Efma. “The strength of the Efma-Accenture partnership is to scout the entire world for innovative and even disruptive initiatives that could potentially transform the retail banking industry. Best innovators are selected by Efma members and judges who are all retail financial executives, which makes it the only award program in the world where bankers are awarded by their peers.”
The program solicits case studies of groundbreaking customer innovations by retail banks globally within nine categories – three of which are new categories this year: Customer Experience, Physical Distribution, Digital Distribution, Customer Analytics & Big Data, Digital Marketing (new), Sales Effectiveness, Everyday Banking (new), Sustainable Business, and Best New Product or Service (new).
Submissions will be reviewed and judged by the Efma Innovation Awards Committee, which consists of senior executives from leading banks in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific, and will identify a short list of nominees per each category. Efma members, which include 3,300 retail financial services companies in more than 130 countries, will vote for the winners in each category.
Winners will be recognized at an award-ceremony in Barcelona on October 15, 2014, which will include presentations on the winning case studies in front of senior industry executives. Additional awards will be granted to recognize the “Global Bank Innovator,” “Most Disruptive Idea” and “Most Promising Idea.”
“Digital technology has made it possible for banks to innovate faster than ever before,” said Juan Pedro Moreno, global managing director of Accenture’s banking practice. “As banks master these technologies, they have an opportunity to redefine customer relationships, bolster efficiencies, and drive growth.”
More information about last year’s program award winners is available at: http://newsroom.accenture.com/news/efma-and-accenture-announce-winners-of-global-banking-distribution-and-marketing-innovation-awards.htm
About Efma
As a global not-for-profit organisation, Efma brings together more than 3,300 retail financial services companies from over 130 countries. With a membership base consisting of almost a third of all large retail banks worldwide, Efma has proven to be a valuable resource for the global industry, offering members exclusive access to a multitude of resources, databases, studies, articles, news feeds and publications. Efma also provides numerous networking opportunities through working groups, online communities and international meetings. For more information: www.efma.com or info@efma.com.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 293,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$28.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2013. Its home page is http://www.accenture.com.
Accenture helps financial institutions transform their customer relationships through Accenture Distribution and Marketing Services, a business service within Accenture’s financial services operating group, serving more than 100 institutions worldwide. Accenture Distribution and Marketing Services combines Accenture’s deep industry knowledge in banking, insurance and wealth management with proven expertise in marketing, distribution and innovation. It blends Accenture’s management consulting, technology and outsourcing capabilities – including its assets and expertise in digital innovations, like analytics and mobile – to help institutions improve growth and cost management through better customer relationships.