Recent evolution and predictable trends of the banking industry's future inside the European space

Currently there is a tempestuous debate regarding the future of the banking system, already deeply influenced by its historical evolution. A common factor of these discussions is the recognition of a certain decline: an obviously decreasing trend of this industry's market share in the global market. The weakening of the central banks' capacity to control currency demand and reach the macroeconomic targets would prejudice the clients (legal or natural persons), who relied on the banks' support for their own businesses, and would increase the cost of accessing the usual banking services. On the premise of the changes that characterised the evolution of Europe's banking systems in the last decades, prospective strategic guidelines can be drawn. These guidelines explain the challenges that the banking system will have to face, starting with these dramatic crisis moments. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.