Banking and Insurance II Unit New
Banking and Insurance II Unit New
Banking and Insurance II Unit New
Distributed ledger technology (DLT) is a digital system for recording the transaction of
assets in which the transactions and their details are recorded in multiple places at the same
time. A distributed ledger is a type of database that is shared, replicated, and synchronized
among the members of a decentralized network. The distributed ledger records the
transactions, such as the exchange of assets or data, among the participants in the network.
BLOCK-CHAIN
Blockchain defined: Blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger that facilitates the process of
recording transactions and tracking assets in a business network. An asset can be tangible (a
house, car, cash, land) or intangible (intellectual property, patents, copyrights, branding).
Virtually anything of value can be tracked and traded on a blockchain network, reducing risk
and cutting costs for all involved.
Permanent: It means once the transaction goes inside a blockchain, it permanently in the
ledger.
Secure: Blockchain placed information in a secure way. It uses very advanced cryptography
to make sure that the information is locked inside the blockchain.
Chronological: Chronological means every transaction happens after the previous one.
Immutable: All the transaction onto the blockchain, this ledger can never be changed.
The list of banks using Blockchain technology in India is divided into private and
public:
• IndusInd Bank
• Yes Bank
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• RBL Bank
• IDFC Bank
• South Indian Bank
• Federal Bank
• HDFC Bank
• ICICI Bank
• Kotak Mahindra Bank
• Axis Bank
• Bank of Baroda
• Indian Bank
• SBI
• Canara Bank
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2. Transactions: Transactions represent the data or information that is recorded on the
blockchain. These can include financial transactions, contracts, or any other form of
digital interaction. Transactions are grouped into blocks and stored on the blockchain
after being validated by network participants.
3. Distributed Network: Blockchain operates on a decentralized network of computers,
often referred to as nodes or peers. These nodes participate in maintaining and
validating the blockchain by performing tasks such as transaction verification, block
creation, and consensus protocols. Each node has a copy of the entire blockchain,
ensuring redundancy and data integrity.
4. Consensus Mechanism: To maintain the integrity and consistency of the blockchain,
a consensus mechanism is employed. This mechanism ensures that all nodes in the
network agree on the validity of transactions and the order in which they are added to
the blockchain. Examples of consensus mechanisms include Proof of Work (PoW),
Proof of Stake (PoS), and Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT).
5. Cryptographic Hashing: Cryptographic hashing algorithms are used to create unique
identifiers (hashes) for each block in the blockchain. These hashes are generated by
applying complex mathematical calculations to the block's data. The hash of each
block is stored in the subsequent block, creating a chain that ensures the immutability
of the blockchain.
6. Peer-to-Peer Communication: Nodes in a blockchain network communicate with
each other using a peer-to-peer (P2P) network protocol. This allows for the exchange
of data, sharing of transaction information, and propagation of blocks across the
network. P2P communication ensures that no central authority is required to control
or verify transactions, making the network more resilient and decentralized.
7. Smart Contracts (Optional): Some blockchains support the execution of smart
contracts. Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with predefined rules and
conditions encoded within the blockchain. They automatically execute transactions or
trigger actions based on predetermined criteria, removing the need for intermediaries
and enhancing automation within the blockchain.
8. Public or Private Blockchain: Blockchains can be public, allowing anyone to
participate and access the blockchain, or private, restricting access to a select group of
participants. Public blockchains, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, are open and transparent,
while private blockchains are often used by organizations to facilitate internal
processes, consortiums, or industry-specific applications.
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9. Hash Codes: It is one of the vital security features used in blockchain technology. In
its basic form, a hash code has a fixed length. It helps to ensure that no one can crack
blockchains or alter block data. We can use Hash codes to verify the integrity of
transactions as well as authentication. We can add new blocks only after solving hash
codes. Note that it must generate the same output whenever we apply the hash
function in data in a block. If not, it means that the data in the block is modified.
10. Nodes: It is one of the essential components of blockchains. Nodes are storage units
that store vast amounts of blockchain data. Nodes can be computers, servers, and
laptops. All nodes are connected in a blockchain network. If any change is made in
the blockchain's data, nodes can detect it quickly. There are two types of nodes such
as full nodes and light nodes.
a) Full Nodes: Generally, a full node stores the complete copy of a blockchain. In
other words, once a full node joins a blockchain, it stores copies of all the blocks.
After the node is synchronized with all other nodes in the network, it can add new
blocks to the blockchain. Full nodes usually have more memory than light nodes.
They can accept, reject, and validate transactions.
b) Light Nodes: They are also known as partial nodes. This is because they don't
copy all the blocks in the blockchain. Instead, they only store the recent blocks
and access older ones only when users request the same. They maintain the hash
code of transactions. You can access data only after solving the hash code. Unlike
full nodes, they have only low computing power and memory.
11. Ledger: Essentially, this component of a blockchain resembles a record-keeping
mechanism. There are three types of ledgers: public, decentralized and distributed.
a) Public Ledger: In this type, anyone can access ledgers since it is open to all
blockchain network participants. There is no central authority in this public ledger
type. And it allows transactions only after verifying the identity of users. At the same
time, participants' identities are hidden until they make any transaction.
b) Distributed Ledger: In distributed type, all the nodes will have a copy of databases.
A group of nodes will manage the tasks, such as verifying transactions or adding
blocks to a blockchain. You can significantly reduce financial fraud and cyber attacks
by using this ledger. You can access all the information stored in this ledger using
cryptographic signatures and keys.
c) Decentralized Ledger: In this type, no participant needs to trust others or know their
identities. The stakeholders or partners can access real-time data from the ledgers
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anytime. This ledger lessens reliance on specific authorities that manage the network.
It brings consistency and improves performance by decentralizing resources.
12. Nonce: Nonce is yet another vital component of blockchain. It refers to a ‘Number
used only once. In its basic form, a nonce is a 32-bit number randomly used only
once. It is also a pseudo-random number that you can use only once in a
cryptographic communication. Generally, a nonce is created only once while creating
a new block or validating a new transaction. Once a perfect nonce is created, we can
add it with the hashed blocks in a blockchain. After that, the block's hash value is
rehashed, eventually creating a difficult algorithm. With this component of
blockchain, we can make secured transactions because nonce verifies all the
transactions along with other data of blocks.
Types of Blockchain
There are 4 types of blockchain:
• Public Blockchain.
• Private Blockchain.
• Hybrid Blockchain.
• Consortium Blockchain.
1. Public Blockchain
These blockchains are completely open to following the idea of decentralization. They
don’t have any restrictions, anyone having a computer and internet can participate in the
network.
• As the name is public this blockchain is open to the public, which means it is not owned
by anyone.
• Anyone having internet and a computer with good hardware can participate in this
public blockchain.
• All the computer in the network hold the copy of other nodes or block present in the
network
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• In this public blockchain, we can also perform verification of transactions or records.
Examples of public blockchain are Bitcoin, Ethereum.
Use Cases:
Voting: Governments can do voting through public blockchain employing transparency and
trust.
Fund raising: Companies or initiatives can make use of the public blockchain for
improving transparency and trust.
Advantages:
• Trustable: Anyone can join the public blockchain. It brings trust among the whole
community of users
• Secure: This blockchain is large in size as it is open to the public. In a large size, there
is greater distribution of records
• Anonymous Nature: It is a secure platform to make your transaction properly at the
same time, you are not required to reveal your name and identity in order to participate.
• Decentralized: There is no single platform that maintains the network, instead
every user has a copy of the ledger.
• No Intermediaries: Public blockchain requires no intermediaries to work.
• Transparency: It brings transparency to the whole network as the available data is
available for verification purposes.
Disadvantages:
• Processing: The rate of the transaction process is very slow, due to its large size.
Verification of each node is a very time-consuming process.
• Energy Consumption: Proof of work is high energy-consuming. It requires good
computer hardware to participate in the network
• Acceptance: No central authority is there so governments are facing the issue to
implement the technology faster.
• Lack of transaction speed: They suffer from a lack of transaction speed. It can take a
few minutes to hours before a transaction is completed. For instance, bitcoin can only
manage seven transactions per second compared to 24,000 transactions per second done
by VISA.
• Scalability : Another problem with public blockchain is scalability. They simply cannot
scale due to how they work.
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2. Private Blockchain
A private blockchain is one of the different types of blockchain technology. A private
blockchain can be defined as the blockchain that works in a restrictive environment, i.e., a
closed network. It is also a permissioned blockchain that is under the control of an entity.
• These are not as open as a public blockchain.
• They are open to some authorized users only.
• These blockchains are operated in a closed network.
• In this few people are allowed to participate in a network within a
company/organization.
Use Cases: With proper security and maintenance, companies use them for internal
auditing, voting, and asset management.
Supply chain management: Organizations can deploy a private blockchain to manage
their supply chain. Asset ownership: Assets can be tracked and verified using a private
blockchain. Internal Voting.
Advantages:
• Speed: Private blockchains are fast. This is because there are few participants compared
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• It is a combination of both public and private blockchain.
• Permission-based and permissionless systems are used.
• User access information via smart contracts
• Even a primary entity owns a hybrid blockchain it cannot alter the transaction
Use Case: It provides a greater solution to the health care industry, government, real estate,
and financial companies. It provides a remedy where data is to be accessed publicly but
needs to be shielded privately. Examples of Hybrid Blockchain are Ripple network and
XRP token.
Advantages:
• Ecosystem: Most advantageous thing about this blockchain is its hybrid nature. It
Disadvantages:
• Efficiency: Not everyone is in the position to implement a hybrid Blockchain. The
Examples of Consortium Blockchain: Marco Polo, Energy Web Foundation, IBM Food
Trust.
Use Cases:
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Banking and payments: A group of banks can work together and create a consortium.
Research: A consortium blockchain can be used to share research data and results.
Advantages:
• Speed: A limited number of users make verification fast. The high speed makes this
Disadvantages:
• Approval: All the members approve the protocol making it less flexible. Since one or
more organizations are involved there can be differences in the vision of interest.
Transparency: It is less transparent.
• Vulnerability: If few nodes are getting compromised there is a greater chance of
vulnerability in this blockchain
TYPES OF DLT:
1. Blockchain: In this type of DLT, transactions are stored in the form chain of blocks and
each block produces a unique hash that can be used as proof of valid transactions. Each
node has a copy of the ledger which makes it more transparent.
2. Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG): This uses a different data structure to organize the
data that brings more consensus. In this type of DLT, validation of transactions mostly
requires the majority of support from the nodes in the network. Every node on the
network has to provide proof of transactions on the ledger and then can initiate
transactions. In this nodes have to verify at least two of the previous transactions on the
ledger to confirm their transaction.
3. Hashgraph: In this type of DLT, records are stored in the form of a directed acyclic
graph. It uses a different consensus mechanism, using virtual voting as the form
consensus mechanism for gaining network consensus. Hence nodes do not have to
validate each transaction on the network.
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4. Holochain: Holochain is termed as the next level of blockchain by some people because
it is much more decentralized than blockchain. It is a type of DLT that simply proposes
that each node will run on a chain of its own. Therefore nodes or miners have the
freedom to operate autonomously. It basically moves to the agent-centric structure. Here
agent means computer, node, miner,etc.
5. Tempo or Radix: Tempo uses the method of making a partition of the ledger this is
termed sharding and then all the events that happened in the network are ordered
properly. Basically, transactions are added to the ledger on basis of the order of events
than the timestamp.
In general blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology are considered as same, but there
are some differences between these two technologies. Blockchain can be classified as a
type of Distributed Ledger Technology. but every Distributed Ledger can not be called a
blockchain.
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Basis Distributed Ledger Blockchain Technology
1. Security: All records of every transaction are securely encrypted. Once the transaction
is validated, it is completely secure and no one can update or change it. It is a
permanent process.
2. Decentralization: All network members or nodes have a copy of the ledger for
complete transparency. A decentralized private distributed network improves the
reliability of the system and gives assurance of continuous operations without any
interruption. It gives control of information and data in the hand of the user.
3. Anonymity: The identity of each participant is anonymous and does not possibly reveal
their identity.
4. Immutable: Any validated transactions can not be changed as they are irreversible.
5. Transparency: Distributed technologies offer a high level of transparency which is
necessary for the sectors like finance, medical science, banking, etc.
6. Speed: Distributed Ledger Technology can handle large transactions faster than
traditional methods.
7. Smart Contracts: Distributed Ledger Technology supports smart contracts which are
self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being
directly written into lines of code. Smart contracts reduce the need for intermediaries
and offer transparency and automation in the execution of the contract terms.
8. Lower Costs: Distributed Ledger Technology eliminates intermediaries and reduces the
costs associated with intermediaries, which makes the system more cost-effective.
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9. Improved Efficiency: Distributed Ledger Technology reduces the time and costs
associated with traditional transaction methods. It offers faster settlement times,
reduced paperwork, and increased efficiency.
10. Auditing: Distributed Ledger Technology makes auditing easier as every transaction is
recorded and the ledger cannot be altered. This improves the transparency and accuracy
of financial audits.
11. Resilience: Distributed Ledger Technology is more resilient than traditional databases
as it is spread across multiple nodes. This means that even if one node goes down, the
network can still function as the rest of the nodes can continue to validate transactions.
12. Traceability: Distributed Ledger Technology offers complete traceability of assets,
from their creation to their current ownership. This improves accountability and reduces
the risks of fraud and theft.
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9. Lack of Interoperability: Different Distributed Ledger Technologies may use different
protocols, which can lead to interoperability issues.
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7. Integration with Existing Systems: Identify opportunities to integrate blockchain
with existing systems and infrastructure. This includes leveraging application
programming interfaces (APIs), legacy system integration, or building hybrid
solutions that combine the benefits of blockchain with traditional technologies.
8. Data Privacy and Security: Develop strategies to ensure data privacy and security on
blockchain networks. Explore encryption techniques, zero-knowledge proofs, and
other privacy-enhancing technologies to protect sensitive information while
maintaining the benefits of transparency and auditability.
9. Interoperability and Standards: Promote interoperability among different
blockchain networks and protocols. Develop and adopt industry standards that enable
seamless communication, data exchange, and interoperability across different
blockchain platforms.
10. Continuous Innovation and Research: Encourage ongoing innovation and research
in blockchain technology. Stay updated with the latest developments, participate in
industry events and conferences, and invest in research and development to explore
new applications, scalability solutions, and improvements in blockchain technology.
Blockchain has the potential to transform several industries by providing a secure and
transparent way to store and transfer data. Some of the industries that can be transformed by
blockchain include:
Finance: Blockchain can transform the finance industry by providing a secure and
transparent way to store and transfer financial data. It can also reduce the need for
intermediaries, which can reduce costs.
Healthcare: Blockchain can transform the healthcare industry by providing a secure and
transparent way to store and transfer patient data. It can also improve efficiency by reducing
the need for intermediaries.
Supply Chain: Blockchain can transform the supply chain industry by providing a secure
and transparent way to track products from the manufacturer to the end consumer. This can
improve efficiency and reduce the risk of fraud.
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Real Estate: Blockchain can transform the real estate industry by providing a secure and
transparent way to store and transfer property data. It can also reduce the need for
intermediaries, which can reduce costs.
Cryptocurrency
The first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, which was founded in 2009 and remains the
best known today. Much of the interest in cryptocurrencies is to trade for profit, with
speculators at times driving prices skyward.
The defining trait of cryptocurrencies is that they are not issued by the government
agency of any country making them immune to any interference and manipulation from them.
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Definition of Cryptocurrency
In simplistic terms, Cryptocurrency is a digitised asset spread through multiple
computers in a shared network. The decentralised nature of this network shields them from
any control from government regulatory bodies.
The term “cryptocurrency in itself is derived from the encryption techniques used to secure
the network. As per computer experts, any system that falls under the category of
cryptocurrency must meet the following requirements.:
Types of Cryptocurrency
The first type of crypto currency was Bitcoin, which to this day remains the most-
used, valuable and popular. Along with Bitcoin, other alternative cryptocurrencies with
varying degrees of functions and specifications have been created. Some are iterations of
bitcoin while others have been created from the ground up
Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by an individual or group known by the pseudonym “Satoshi
Nakamoto. As of March 2021, there were over 18.6 million bitcoins in circulation with a total
market cap of around $927 billion.
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The competing cryptocurrencies that were created as a result of Bitcoin’s success are known
as altcoins. Some of the well known altcoins are as follows:
1. Litecoin
2. Peercoin
3. Namecoin
4. Ethereum
5. Cardana
Today, the aggregate value of all the cryptocurrencies in existence is around $1.5 trillion—
Bitcoin currently represents more than 60% of the total value.
Advantages of Cryptocurrencies
Disadvantages of Cryptocurrencies
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2. Less awareness: Cryptocurrency is still a new concept for the people and the long-term
sustainability of cryptocurrencies remains to be seen.
3. Volatility: Cryptocurrencies can be highly volatile, with prices fluctuating rapidly
and unpredictably.
4. Lack of Regulation: Cryptocurrencies are not yet fully regulated by governments,
which can lead to uncertainty and potential risk for users.
5. Limited Acceptance: While the number of merchants accepting cryptocurrencies is
growing, they are still not widely accepted as a form of payment.
6. Hacking and Fraud: Cryptocurrencies are vulnerable to hacking and fraud, and
there have been numerous high-profile incidents of theft and scams in the
cryptocurrency world.
• Instead of printing paper currency or minting coins, the central bank issues electronic tokens.
• This token value is backed by the full faith and credit of the government.
• CBDC is a legal tender issued by a central bank in a digital form.
• It is similar to a fiat currency issued in paper and is interchangeable with any other fiat
currency.
Types of CBDCs
There are two types of CBDCs, wholesale and retail. Financial institutions are the
primary users of wholesale CBDCs, whereas consumers and businesses use retail CBDCs.
Wholesale CBDCs
Wholesale CBDCs are similar to holding reserves in a central bank. The central bank
grants an institution an account to deposit funds or use to settle interbank transfers. Central
banks can then use monetary policy tools, such as reserve requirements or interest on reserve
balances, to influence lending and set interest rates.
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Retail CBDCs
Retail CBDCs are government-backed digital currencies used by consumers and
businesses. Retail CBDCs eliminate intermediary risk—the risk that private digital currency
issuers might become bankrupt and lose customers' assets.
There are two types of retail CBDCs. They differ in how individual users access and
use their currency:
• Token-based retail CBDCs are accessible with private keys or public keys or both.
This method of validation allows users to execute transactions anonymously.
• Account-based retail CBDCs require digital identification to access an account.
Merits
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1. Enhanced Security: DLT provides a secure and tamper-proof platform for
financial transactions. The decentralized nature of DLT ensures that transactions
are verified and recorded across multiple nodes in the network, making it difficult
for malicious actors to manipulate or tamper with data. This improves security and
reduces the risk of fraud.
2. Improved Efficiency and Transparency: DLT eliminates the need for
intermediaries in financial transactions. By enabling peer-to-peer transactions and
automated smart contracts, DLT reduces processing time, minimizes paperwork,
and streamlines settlement processes. It also provides transparency, as all
participants in the network have access to the same set of data, reducing the need
for reconciliation and improving overall efficiency.
3. Cross-Border Payments and Remittances: DLT enables faster and more cost-
effective cross-border payments and remittances. Traditional methods can be
slow, expensive, and involve multiple intermediaries. DLT-based solutions
simplify the process by providing a decentralized infrastructure that facilitates
direct transfers, reduces fees, and eliminates the need for intermediaries.
4. Financial Inclusion: DLT has the potential to promote financial inclusion by
providing access to financial services for the unbanked and underbanked
populations. With DLT-based solutions, individuals who lack access to traditional
banking services can participate in the financial ecosystem, create digital
identities, and access various financial products and services.
5. Smart Contracts and Automation: DLT enables the execution of smart
contracts, which are self-executing agreements with predefined conditions and
terms. Smart contracts automate processes, reducing the need for manual
intervention and improving accuracy. They can facilitate automated payments,
trigger actions based on predefined events, and streamline complex financial
workflows.
6. Supply Chain Finance and Trade: DLT has applications in supply chain finance
and trade finance. It provides a transparent and secure platform for tracking goods,
verifying authenticity, and managing supply chain financing. DLT can enable
efficient inventory management, reduce fraud in trade finance, and facilitate faster
and more transparent trade settlements.
7. Regulatory Compliance: DLT can assist in regulatory compliance by providing
immutable and auditable records of financial transactions. Regulators can access
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the distributed ledger to verify compliance with anti-money laundering (AML)
and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations. DLT can also enable automatic
reporting, ensuring transparency and reducing compliance costs for financial
institutions.
8. Tokenization of Assets: DLT allows for the tokenization of assets, representing
real-world assets as digital tokens on a blockchain. This opens up new avenues for
fractional ownership, liquidity, and trading of traditionally illiquid assets such as
real estate, art, and intellectual property. Tokenization can democratize access to
investment opportunities and enable more efficient asset management.
9. Data Integrity and Privacy: DLT ensures data integrity by providing a
transparent and tamper-proof record of transactions. It can also incorporate
privacy features, allowing for selective disclosure of information while
maintaining confidentiality. This can be particularly useful in sensitive financial
transactions and compliance with data privacy regulations.
10. Collaborative Ecosystems: DLT facilitates collaboration and trust among
different participants in the financial ecosystem. It enables financial institutions,
technology providers, and other stakeholders to collaborate on shared platforms,
reducing duplication of efforts, enhancing interoperability, and fostering
innovation through open APIs and standardized protocols.
DLT has the potential to revolutionize financial services by improving security, efficiency,
transparency, and access to financial services. However, challenges related to scalability,
interoperability, regulatory frameworks, and industry-wide adoption need to be addressed to
fully realize the potential of DLT in the financial industry.
AI IN BANKING
Almost every industry, including banking and finance, has been significantly
disrupted by artificial intelligence. This industry is now more customer-centric and
technologically relevant thanks to the use of AI inside banking applications and services.
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Future of artificial intelligence (AI) in banking
The future of artificial intelligence (AI) in banking holds tremendous potential for
transforming the industry in various ways. Here are some key aspects that illustrate the future
of AI in banking:
6. Risk Assessment and Credit Scoring: AI will further enhance risk assessment and
credit scoring models, enabling banks to make more accurate lending decisions and
offer personalized loan terms. This will help improve credit access and expand
financial inclusion.
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7. Regulatory Compliance: AI will assist banks in complying with complex regulations
by automating compliance checks, monitoring transactions, and ensuring adherence to
anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements. AI-
powered systems will help banks stay updated with changing regulations and avoid
penalties.
8. Voice and Facial Recognition: AI-powered biometric authentication methods, such
as voice and facial recognition, will provide secure and convenient access to banking
services. These technologies offer robust identity verification, reducing the reliance
on traditional passwords and enhancing customer security.
9. Collaboration with FinTech Startups: Banks will increasingly collaborate with
FinTech startups and technology firms to leverage AI innovations. This collaboration
will foster the development of innovative solutions, accelerate the adoption of AI
technologies, and drive industry-wide transformation.
10. Ethical and Responsible AI: As AI becomes more prevalent in banking, the industry
will emphasize ethical and responsible AI practices. Transparency, fairness, and data
privacy will be prioritized to maintain customer trust and regulatory compliance.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has numerous applications in the banking industry. Here
are some key areas where AI is commonly utilized:
1. Customer Service and Support: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants provide 24/7
customer support, answering queries, assisting with transactions, and offering personalized
recommendations. These systems can understand natural language, learn from interactions,
and provide efficient and personalized assistance to customers.
2. Fraud Detection and Prevention: AI algorithms analyze large volumes of data in real-
time to detect fraudulent activities. By monitoring patterns, anomalies, and transaction
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behavior, AI systems can identify and prevent potential fraud, enhancing security and
protecting customer accounts.
3. Risk Assessment and Credit Scoring: AI analyzes customer data, credit histories, and
other relevant information to assess creditworthiness accurately. It improves risk assessment
and credit scoring models, enabling banks to make informed lending decisions, offer
personalized loan terms, and manage credit risks more effectively.
9. Predictive Analytics: AI uses historical data and market trends to make accurate
predictions about customer behavior, market conditions, and financial risks. It assists banks
in making data-driven decisions, developing targeted marketing campaigns, and managing
portfolios more effectively.
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10. Cybersecurity: AI strengthens cybersecurity measures by continuously monitoring
network traffic, identifying potential threats, and responding to attacks in real-time. Machine
learning algorithms can learn from patterns and anomalies, enabling banks to enhance their
security protocols and protect customer data.
• Chatbots: This AI provides the use of Natural Language Processing to give relevant
answers to the different enquiries of the customers. Chatbots are now being used in
the banking industry to provide consumers with a 24/7 service experience.
• Fraud Detection: The banking industry can reduce the chance of fraud activities by
significantly using Artificial Intelligence.
• 24/7 Availability & Higher Productivity: The very first advantage of AI machines is
that it does not require frequent refreshment breaks, just like human beings. AI
machines can be programmed to work for long, and these machines give higher
productivity as compared to human beings.
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• Digital Assistance: Nowadays, banks have started using machines instead of human
beings to interact with customer.
• Management of Repetitive Jobs: Repeated jobs are tiresome and humans don’t like
their work to be slowed over such tasks. The repeated jobs can be easily handled by
making the use of AI algorithms.
• Error Reduction: One of the most advantageous benefits of Artificial Intelligence is,
it helps in reducing the error probability and increases the chance of higher accuracy.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly transform the banking industry by
automating processes, enhancing customer experiences, improving risk management, and
enabling personalized financial services. Here are some ways banking can be reimagined
with AI:
1. Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can
provide 24/7 customer support, answer basic queries, assist with transactions, and
offer personalized financial advice. These AI systems can understand natural
language, learn from customer interactions, and continuously improve their responses.
2. Fraud Detection and Prevention: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to
detect fraudulent activities in real-time. By monitoring patterns, anomalies, and
suspicious transactions, AI can enhance fraud prevention measures and reduce the
risks associated with financial crimes.
3. Risk Assessment and Credit Scoring: AI can analyze customer data, including
transaction history, credit scores, and social media profiles, to assess creditworthiness
accurately. It can provide more comprehensive risk assessments, enabling banks to
make informed lending decisions and offer personalized loan terms.
4. Personalized Banking Experiences: AI can leverage customer data to offer
personalized recommendations, such as tailored investment portfolios, savings plans,
or insurance options. By understanding individual preferences, AI can anticipate
customer needs, suggest relevant products, and provide customized financial
guidance.
5. Robo-Advisors: AI-powered robo-advisors can automate investment advice and
portfolio management. These systems use algorithms to analyze customer goals, risk
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tolerance, market trends, and other factors to provide personalized investment
recommendations at lower costs compared to traditional human advisors.
6. Process Automation: AI can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as
data entry, document verification, and compliance checks. This streamlines internal
operations, reduces errors, and frees up bank staff to focus on more complex and
value-added activities.
7. Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP enables AI systems to understand and
interpret human language, facilitating automated document analysis, contract reviews,
and regulatory compliance. It can extract key information from documents, identify
relevant clauses, and ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
8. Predictive Analytics: By analyzing historical data and market trends, AI can make
accurate predictions about customer behavior, market conditions, and financial risks.
This can assist banks in making data-driven decisions, developing targeted marketing
campaigns, and managing their portfolios more effectively.
9. Cyber-security: AI can play a crucial role in strengthening cybersecurity measures
by continuously monitoring network traffic, identifying potential threats, and
responding to attacks in real-time. Machine learning algorithms can learn from
patterns and anomalies, enabling banks to enhance their security protocols and protect
customer data.
10. Voice and Facial Recognition: AI-powered biometric authentication methods, such
as voice and facial recognition, can provide secure and convenient access to banking
services. These technologies offer robust identity verification, reducing the reliance
on traditional passwords and enhancing customer security.
It's important to note that while AI offers numerous benefits, its adoption should be
accompanied by appropriate regulations, ethical considerations, and transparent
communication with customers to ensure data privacy and maintain trust in the banking
industry.
CLOUD BANKING:
The term "cloud-based banking" refers to the deployment and management of the
banking infrastructure to manage key banking functions and financial services delivered via
the cloud without the use of dedicated physical servers. A cloud bank is a type of banking
infrastructure that exists on the cloud.
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Cloud banking is the on-demand delivery of hosted computing services (servers, data
storage, communication and networking, applications and data analytics) to banks, credit
unions, Fintechs and other financial institutions (FIs) via the Internet. With cloud banking,
FIs have access to scalable, cost-efficient computing resources and IT services . The cloud
controls a bank’s data storage and ensures 360-degree visibility over every transaction. Banks
make the most out of cloud computing by monitoring end-to-end processes. An additional
benefit to Cloud Banking is that the banks will be soon notified if there is any security
breach.
Customers will have greater control over their money via digital platforms that enable
them to pay bills online or transfer funds between accounts without visiting a branch office.
They will also be purposeful in aligning their services with environmental, moral, and social
values.
• Hybrid Clouds
A cloud is a term used to describe a group of interconnected computers that come
together to form a single entity.
• Community Clouds
This model of deployment uses the cloud to help a community of users with similar
needs and concerns.
• Public Clouds
This is made available to the public and is owned by an organization that provides
cloud services.
• Private Clouds
This is a cloud service that is managed by the bank and can only be accessed from
within the bank. This option is more secure than other services but comes at a cost.
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Benefits in switching to Cloud Banking in India
1. Improved Customer Experience: With the cloud, banks can offer access to banking
services anytime and anywhere, leading to a better customer experience. Buyers and
sellers, might be brought together through cloud-based shared applications. Cloud
Computing can enhance Customer Experience more precisely.
2. Reduced costs: Banks can save money by moving their applications and data to the
cloud. The pay-as-you-go pricing model of public clouds makes it more affordable for
financial institutions to use these services.
3. Faster processing speeds: Cloud platforms are designed for fast performance and
can handle large amounts of data quickly and easily. This allows banks to improve
their transaction processing speeds and reduce latency problems.
4. Greater scalability: Cloud platforms can scale up or down as needed, which gives
financial institutions the flexibility they need to best serve their customers.
5. Enhanced security: The public cloud is a more secure environment than most on-
premises systems, and it offers multiple layers of protection against data breaches and
other attacks.
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10. Increased Efficiency: Cloud technology in banking helps financial services
organizations to streamline operations with improved efficiency. Payment processes
can be further simplified by connecting both buyers and sellers on a shared
application. This helps improve transaction speed and easier to track data.
11. Business Continuity: Cloud computing can assist banks and financial services firms
with increased data protection, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery for financial
firms. It provides a high level of redundancy and backup at a comparatively lower
price than traditional managed solutions.
12. Agility and Transformation: Financial organizations can experience shorter
development cycles for new products through flexible cloud-based operating models.
The related technology supports a faster and more efficient response to the needs of
modern banking customers. It enables businesses to shift non-critical services,
including maintenance, software patches and other computing issues. This helps
financial firms focus more on business growth.
13. Reduction in Risks
Cloud service providers offer a feasible alternative to out-of-date technologies that are
becoming increasingly sensitive to data leakage. Cloud-based solutions can give enhanced
security by allowing for the quick discovery of potential breaches and embedding protection
to ensure banking data. Cloud technologies can provide a high level of availability and
redundancy that can assist with disaster response.
14. Increased Adaptability
Cloud technology enables firms to respond rapidly to changing market conditions,
employing data and applied analytics to create a customer experience and operational
productivity benefits for banks and credit unions seeking more business agility. The potential
range from adapting to changing consumer or competition dynamics to enabling the
scalability of technology use.
15. Compatible
Cloud-based banking services are compatible with any platform. Organizations that use
legacy software may experience compatibility issues when upgrading their infrastructure.
16. Convenience
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As a result of the convenience offered by cloud-based banking solutions, many banks are
shifting to this method of service. CSPs are currently offering data management services,
enabling banks to manage intricate operations internally.
At present, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Alibaba, and Huawei have a stranglehold on the
cloud banking market, controlling over 80% of the sector. This indicates that these industry
giants are investing heavily in cloud-based banking..
Financial organizations cannot afford to ignore data breaches. They must have secure data
management systems in place to keep sensitive information safe from cybercriminals. Cloud-
based banking solutions provide complete protection to digital retail banks from unauthorized
third-party access. These solutions can also aid digital banking institutions in detecting
anomalies such as identity fraud and money laundering activities.
18. Analytics
Banks that use cloud-based banking solutions enjoy the benefit of automated data
reporting and analysis. Also, Computing power is essential to managing banking operations.
Cloud computing enables you to maintain an eco-friendly infrastructure for your internal and
external services.
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