With Russian markets reeling from a fresh bout of sanctions and Turkey suffering extreme currency volatility, investment bankers in CEE were on the back foot last year. As the flow of larger deals slowed to a trickle, the small group of global players still focused on the region struggled to find a market for their services.

Citi’s local presence gives it an edge with financial sponsors, particularly the regional players, such as Mid Europa Partners, that drive a large chunk of deal flow in CEE.

NLB Banka

When Alfa-Bank began focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises 10 years ago, the segment was largely ignored by Russia’s leading banks. Customer service was nonexistent and access to finance was limited, especially for smaller firms.

Erste’s chief executive built its emerging Europe empire, rescued it after the financial crisis and successfully positioned the group for a sustainable and socially responsible future.

Household net financial wealth in CEE has roughly doubled since 2006 and private banking and wealth management services are increasingly in demand across the region.

Albania

Rothschild & Co wins the award for best bank for advisory by virtue of the unrivalled breadth and depth of its CEE franchise.

This year Lombard Odier is western Europe’s best bank for wealth management. It has $262 billion in client assets, making it a medium-sized player, yet it succeeds in having the feel of a boutique wealth manager thanks to its structure.

Stiff competition and a large, young, dynamic population have provided fertile conditions for the development of digital banking in Turkey and created some of the most tech-forward lenders in CEE.

The Bank of England and Federal Reserve begin to build the bulwarks against Facebook's cryptocurrency Libra.

The field of contenders in the race to succeed Mark Carney as governor of the BoE is widening to include some unlikely names.

Don’t believe the doubters – the transition from fossil fuel to clean energy can be made, and made swiftly and profitably.

Christian Sewing has set the bank a difficult task of cutting businesses and costs yet growing revenues in the next three years; not everyone is convinced it can do both

Germany’s biggest bank wants to convince investors that its latest restructuring effort differs from previous attempts by returning the firm to its original mission.

Most UK SMEs applying for loans have their applications approved, raising worries that banks have loosened standards just as risk mounts.

The recent withdrawal of Stater Global Markets from the prime-of-prime broker market has underlined the need for providers to continue to prove their value to clients.

Cash borrowers want forward-looking reference rates to transition to after Libor and the market is struggling to come up with them.

US-dominated investors make it harder for good banks to shine through.

Benchmark reform may have received a lukewarm welcome from corporates, but treasurers would be well advised to quantify their Libor exposures to avoid nasty surprises during the transition to alternative overnight risk-free rates.

The central bank’s new ideas for how to modernize Britain’s financial system could eat into banks’ revenues, while helping them cut costs. For the wider economy, Brexit will still smother the intended fillip to small-business exporters.

The scourge of short termism.

Lead by example.

Europe can build a more integrated system.

The father of international finance in the 1960s.

For Euromoney's 50th anniversary issue, we picked out the six individual bankers that we believe define each of the decades of Euromoney’s existence. They are all giants of the industry. Their names transcend it.

Crossing bridges before you come to them.

Trade finance is gaining momentum as a securitized asset class – the resultant increased liquidity may offer corporates access to trade finance much more easily and quickly, especially as digital solutions streamline the process. Will SMEs, which have traditionally found it harder to access the market, be able to reap the benefits as well?

Everyone wants to buy green bonds but many issuers, concerned about cost and complexity, don’t want to sell them. Non-green issuers could be all too ready to fill the void.

Regulate big tech or deregulate banks.