Perspectives

From the impact of the pandemic to AI, security to quantum computing, this episode two industry veterans will walk us through the state of technology in banking. Inci Akpinar, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer for Canadian Banking Engineering at Scotiabank, and Sebastian Blandizzi, the Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer for Data & Global Wealth Technology at Scotiabank, explore how far the field has come, where it might be going and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:17 – Inci and Sebastian look back on technology in banking when they started their careers vs where it is now  7:27 – What pressures does a bank face when it comes to the evolution of technology?  10:50 – What are the next big challenges and opportunities on the horizon?  12:53 – What keeps Sebastian up at night and why that’s recently changed  16:47 – How AI has changed how Inci and Sebastian look at their work and what clients expect  22:50 – What is banking technology going to look like in the next ten years?

Just over a decade ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its Final Report into Canada’s Residential School System, including its 94 Calls to Action and 10 Principles of Reconciliation. This episode we’ll hear about the legacy of the TRC 10 years later with one of the three commissioners, Marie Wilson. She’ll tell Myan Marcen-Gaudaur, Scotiabank’s Director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, about her time as a commissioner, the state of reconciliation over the past 10 years, the progress on the 94 Calls to Action and more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  3:05 – Marie describes the work she did with the TRC and explains why 10 years later many might be unaware  10:09 – The importance of starting with the ‘why’ when it comes to reconciliation  13:57 – What did Marie see as the potential for her work 10 years ago?  18:17 – How much progress has Marie seen in the last 10 years?  27:48 – Where the title of Marie’s book, North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner came from  29:55 – Where the inspiration for writing a book came from  32:27 – What role Marie sees her book playing in Canada’s collective commitment to reconciliation   38:47 – What advice Marie would give to Scotiabank as they continue on the path of reconciliation 

In this episode, we have two experts to break down the latest scams and tell us how to avoid falling victim. From bank impersonation scams to AI and even old-fashioned door-to-door grifts, Detective Constable Valerie Dahan from Toronto Police Service and Aaron McAllister, Vice President of Fraud Threat Management at Scotiabank, run down the red flags and what to do if you suspect you, a loved one or a neighbour might be a victim. For more fraud prevention resources, check out Scotiabank’s Cybersecurity and Fraud Hub.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:02 – Val tells us about her role at Toronto Police Services and an overview of the scams landscape right now  3:23 – Aaron gives us his overall take on the current state of scams  4:11 – Broader context about scams and how they are often perpetrated by overseas victims of human trafficking   8:07 – A deeper dive into specific scams starting with impersonation scams, specifically bank impersonation scams  13:24 – Val breaks down romance scams and the psychology behind them that makes them so potent  20:07 – What are home improvement scams and what should people look out for?  22:26 – Are seniors targeted more often with scams?  23:13 – Some final tips on how people can protect themselves 

Some welcome relief has come for consumers and businesses as the Bank of Canada has decided to lower its key policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, marking the first cut since March.   Scotiabank’s Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault is back to explain what drove the central bank’s decision, what it says about the state of the economy, why we “aren’t out of the woods” yet on inflation, the odds of another cut this year, and much more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  00:53 - JF’s main takeaway from the Bank of Canada’s decision to cut its key policy rate  1:53 - What does this say about the state of the economy?  2:28 - How much of an impact does a cut of 25 basis points have on the economy? (And why another cut is likely)  5:08 - With counter-tariffs on the U.S. largely eliminated, what is driving inflation in Canada now? What is keeping inflation higher than hoped?  7:39 - What does JF see for the economy ahead, given all the uncertainties?  9:14 - With a federal budget to be announced in November, what could this influx of government spending mean for the economy and inflation?  12:33 - How will this 25 basis point cut impact households, individuals, and businesses? And why mortgage borrowers are most likely to feel the impact  14:14 - Will lowering interest rates and making it easier for consumers to buy a house drive up prices and inflation?  15:16 - Why JF expects the Bank of Canada to cut again before the end of the year – but then possibly start to reverse them next year  16:26 - JF’s main takeaways for Canadians from the central bank’s announcement 

Farah Omran, a Senior Economist at Scotiabank, dives into the crucial economic indicators that matter for Canadians today. She highlights the significance of understanding inflation, GDP growth, and unemployment rates to decode the economy. The discussion unveils how the Bank of Canada's policy rate influences consumer behavior and housing prices. Additionally, Farah emphasizes the role of productivity as a key driver of economic growth and living standards, urging listeners to grasp these metrics for a clearer financial outlook.

The Bank of Canada has decided to hold its key policy rate steady at 2.75%, for the third consecutive time, amid ongoing trade uncertainty.   Scotiabank’s Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault returns to break down the central bank’s decision to hold once again, how Canada’s economy has been stronger than anticipated, possible economic scenarios ahead, and much more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures  Key moments this episode:   1:10 - JF’s main takeaway from the decision  1:35 - Did we learn anything from the Bank of Canada’s commentary or outlook?  2:31 - Was a hold the right call in JF’s view?  3:16 - JF walks us through the Bank of Canada’s three possible economic scenarios ahead  5:18 - What scenario does JF think is most likely?  5:55 - How unusual is it for the Bank of Canada to not have an economic forecast?  7:14 - What is the current state of Canada’s economy?  9:30 - A breakdown of Canada’s “unbelievable” employment numbers  10:34 - Which sectors are feeling the impact of trade uncertainty the most?  12:17 - Scotiabank Economics’ outlook for rate decisions for the rest of 2025  15:07 - What’s happening in Canada’s housing market?  16:54 - JF’s main takeaways for Canadians from the Bank of Canada’s decision and outlook? 

Newcomers to Canada are still critical to fuel our country's economic growth, despite recent cuts to immigration targets. In this episode, we’re joined by Kingsley Chak, the Senior Vice President of Deposits and Investments at Scotiabank, and Anthony Bambokian, Senior Economic Analyst with Scotiabank. They’ll discuss Canada’s changing immigration targets and the potential economic impacts that may have, the hurdles new Canadians face, some of the services Scotiabank offers newcomers, and much more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:14 - Anthony catches us up on Canada’s immigration numbers from pre-COVID to present  7:13 – Why, despite changing targets, Canada will always be a nation of immigrants  8:48 – What balance Canada needs to strike when it comes to new arrival targets  10:24 – What are the main challenges newcomers face when they first arrive in Canada?  11:30 – Some data around how long it takes newcomers to find their economic footing after arriving in Canada  13:25 – Two more key hurdles many newcomers face in Canada  14:42 – What challenges newcomers face when it comes to banking and finances  19:02 – The numbers behind newcomers and entrepreneurship  21:12 – How Kingsley's personal immigration story also relates to banking  22:18 – Final takeaways from the conversation

Yannick Lallement, Chief AI Officer at Scotiabank and a true pioneer in AI, shares insights on the latest advancements transforming the banking sector. He reflects on his journey in AI since the 90s and reveals his surprised reactions to recent breakthroughs. The discussion highlights agentic AI's potential to autonomously handle complex tasks, improving customer interactions. Yannick also explains how Scotiabank is leveraging AI for personalized services while ensuring client safety amid privacy concerns. The future of AI in banking looks promising!

The Bank of Canada announced that it has held its policy interest rate steady at 2.75% for the second consecutive time as tariff uncertainty continues to loom, the Canadian economy shows signs of weakness and inflation persists.   Scotiabank’s Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault is back on the show to break down the central bank’s latest decision, what’s happening with inflation and in Canada’s housing market, why he doesn’t expect any interest rate cuts this year, and much more.    For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:   1:00 — What is JF's main takeaway from the Bank of Canada's latest decision?  1:43 — JF breaks down Canada's latest GDP numbers and how that factored into the central bank's decision to hold  4:03 — A closer look at inflation in Canada and how key measures are rising  6:35 —JF's outlook for the economy in the coming months  10:00 — Why JF isn't expecting the Bank of Canada to announce a cut this year  14:06 — What's happening in the Canadian housing market? If interest rates stay put for awhile, what kind of ripple effect could that have?  16:29 — The main takeaway from the Bank of Canada's decision and outlook for Canadians 

Raeann Rideout, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, discusses the growing concern of elder financial abuse, dubbed 'the crime of the 21st century.' She shares sobering statistics, emphasizing that one in six seniors has been affected. The conversation highlights common perpetrators and crucial warning signs. Raeann also breaks down the role of Power of Attorney, guiding seniors on how to protect themselves while managing their finances. Practical advice for victims and proactive measures from financial institutions round out this vital discussion.