Welcome to my new blog, ‘diary of a banker’. I am glad you are here. Just look around, read the posts, discover the links and watch the videos.

My objective is to enter posts and articles on a regular basis, sometimes in the form of a diary, sometimes by reacting on articles or shows and sometimes by including videos on certain topics like the newly started video-series on “Investment Banking 4 Dummies” (don’t miss out, they are really instructive AND fun).

All aimed at learning from the mistakes we all made in the last 15 years and using that experience to build “the bank of the future”.

Some topics I will cover:

* The truth behind the financial crisis.
* Leadership development
* Social networking for bankers
* ELearning
* Change and transformation.

Finally, how can I open my new blog “diary of a banker” in a better way than with “Diary” by Alicia Keys! With a fantastic “Tony” in the background between the two ladies…..enjoy!

Regards,
Tony de Bree
Diary Of A Banker Blog

p.s.
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p.p.s.
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Morning, today in the series on “Social networking for bankers”, the first article on “the basics”.

Across the Internet, people with the same needs, interests or desires come together in all kinds of different groups, teams, communities or fora. And with more and people getting onto the Internet nowadays, it is no more just a scientific playground.

It is used for more serious activities such as business networking, marketing, promotion, sales, customer service, handling of complaints, branding, and several others. With increasing number of people logging on to the Internet everyday, there is now a wide array of online services catered to meet all their diverse needs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Morning,

some time ago we started a project with the bank I am partly employed about social networking. In this case, it is about how to implement a social network platform with the Group.

Anyway. One thing became clear very quickly and that was that many people in banks do not know what social networking is and how it can support the business of your bank.

So that is why I decided to start a small series of posts on this topic entitled “Social networking for bankers” (category: social networking for bankers).

Today the first one: “social networking for bankers: an introduction.

Regards,
Tony de Bree
www.diaryofabanker.com

Morning,

finalised the pre-launch site and VIP-list for my new book on “splitting-up banks”.

Looking at the first very positive reactions, this might be big. So make sure to register yourself on the pre-launch list by clicking on this banner to the left and by signing-up.

I will also ask followers of my twitter-account here for input and opinions. So if you have not joined yet, please do. Click here and follow me.

Kind regards,
Tony

www.diaryofabanker.com

New free 5-day Twitter Course

Morning.

Slept great. Good week.

In order for banks and bankers to survive this new revolution on the net with social media and in social networks understanding the opportunities and threats of Twitter is key.

So register yourself now and take the first steps in your social networking journey to get into touch with your existing and new clients..

Don’t worry, I will not share your info with anyone.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me either privately or on Twitter: diaryofabanker

Have fun,

Tony
www.diaryofabanker.com

Follow Tony de Bree on Twitter (diary of a banker/banking blog)

Morning,

after a long period of very hectic work on splitting-up the former ABN AMRO (see my linkedin-profile) first with RBS and then as part of the Remedy (HBU) and a lot of activities on and around my Dutch blog and my Dutch business, I finally have some time to work on my English “diary of a banker” blog.

I am doing a lot of updating including, a new “dairy of a banker” Twitter-account (in English). So don’t wait and follow me here:

Free articles and video's on Twitter

Morning,

a few days rest before tomorrow the hectic and stress starts again at ABN AMRO due to the upcoming split of RBS away from the “Bosbank”.

What has really impressed me this week was the incredible role social media like Twitter and Youtube play and have played during the events in Iran and around the death of Michael Jackson.

Especially the impact of Twitter as a new medium to inform the World about what is going on has been impressive.

Now, as any people especially in Banking do not know much about Twitter yet, I have included a link to one of my sites with free articles and free video’s on Twitter.

Click here to read those free articles and to watch the free video’s on Twitter.

Yep, for free….as we are still in a crisis…….

Regards,
Tony de Bree
www.diaryofabanker.com

Customer Intelligence, EFMA, Paris, June 10-11

Good afternoon from rainy Paris.

Just finished the first day of the Efma Conference on “Customer Intelligence and CRM”. I did not have time to go the masterclasses as I had work to do.

As usual, good program (Philippe!). The first presentation was by Jane Nolan from AIB Bank in Ireland. Very interesting.

I also liked the contribution of The Deutsche Bank (Andres Stoffers) on their strategy regardign activating dormant clients (not to be confused with “dead”) and the one from Anne Kyhl Hauskou from Nykredit in Denmark.

The interesting thing is still that it is clear that new banks from Eastern Europe but also banks like Nykredit can start all-over quickly without making all the mistakes the “dinosaur” banks have made.

To be fair to the dinosaurs: of course the birds, the crocodiles and the turtles did survive!

Something else was interesting also and that is as we already concluded in 2001, there still is a big difference between pronounced strategy and the reality: cost cutting comes first and the clients ……..

Although we all know this is deadly as is brings us in de downward cost-cutting spiral, it still seems to be the norm.

The other issue coming up with larger banks is still the attitude of the internal IT-departments. Unfortunately nothing new.

In general, it apparently still is “computer says no” (Little Britain) in banking instead of users and business first:

This one is for Michael Mischker from SAP (from Paul Iske): NT + OO = VEOO:

New Technology + Old Organisation = Very Expensive Old Organisation.

And finally: long live “creative destruction”: 45-52% cost reductions comparing to 25 by process improvement.

Shower first, then some “chilling” and then dinner in Paris.

Speak to you soon.

Tony de Bree
www.diaryofabanker.com

Morning, everybody is still sleeping. Except me. It is Easter. I am getting really tired of all the pessimistic stories and gloomy people. Don´t you? And that is why I dedicate this great song by Eric Clapton (´change the world´) to everybody around the world that feels like doing something positive instead of ´yes, but…´.

Happy Easter!

Tony de Bree
www.tonydebree.com

John Bird and John Fortune (the Long Johns) explain how the crisis begun and along the way give a great insight into the world of investment banking.

They also explain terms as “Sentiment”, “Volatility”, “Subprime Mortgages” and “Structured Investment Vehicles” in a few seconds.

This is really “Investment banking for dummies” lesson 1.

Great stuff!

Tony de Bree
www.tonydebree.com

p.s

Make sure not to miss any of the next lessons of “Investment banking for dummies” by subscribing to the RSS-feed.