The spread of new forms of financing of the economy alternative to bank credit, involving the direct access of firms to investors and the capital market, may enable the banks themselves to broaden and diversify their sources of income.
A significant contribution can come from corporate finance and asset management services; these lines of business, while permitting less stringent capital requirements, demand special attention to ensuring correct relations with customers. The growth of forms of intermediation hinging on the use of technology heightens competition and itself makes possible a wider range of services.