North America is clearly the epicenter of the financial crisis that started in 2008. Although there were major ripple effects felt among the European and Asian banks - with repercussions such as sociopolitical shifts, higher cost of capital, tightening credit conditions and regulatory changes in the regions, the bad times are almost behind us.

Financial institutions in Asia are once again starting to get back into a growth trajectory. In a recent poll conducted by IDC Financial Insights, 44% CxOs surveyed indicated that "they believe the recession is already over". An additional 12% said "recovery may be just a quarter away". This positivism is further endorsed by the fact that 4 in 5 CxOs cited intentions to increase (or at the very least sustain) the year-on-year technology and operational spending in 2010.

Financial institution leaders are internally revisiting and reassessing all internal processes, policies and procedures - from basic loan origination solutions to the more complex data warehousing and core-banking systems - to determine how best to rein in cost, make the most out of limited resources, and stay ahead of competition. Technology and operational innovation, we believe, will pave the way for all of these ambitions over the new year.

IDC Financial Insights will share with the audience the latest research findings and highlight a set of strategic initiatives that banks can adapt in order to respond to the economic turnaround. These countercyclical strategies comprise of technology initiatives that can help banks operate in the post-crisis environment and spot new opportunities in the horizon. The presentation will be based on the feedback provided by more than 250 CxOs from banks throughout Asia/Pacific.