About How will banking operations survive these markets?

Calum Cooper is the CEO of the RBS Groups Global Shared Services Hub in Warsaw, and knows only too well how tough it is for financial institutions to survive the stringent regulatory and capital requirements that have been enforced as a result of the economic crisis. To continue to operate in certain markets, and expand in others, banks need to take a hard look at their cost structure, he tells Kim Vigilia at SSONs Central & East European conference, earlier this year. His groups priority is to leverage the opportunities presented by Central & Eastern Europe to present a leaner cost base, and support the banks global operations - not so much through labour arbitrage, but through leveraging knowhow. The hub in Warsaw is part of RBSs permanent solution, he explains. Sustainability is a key issue for RBS - and that means that the knowledgebase is critical. Listen to the interview